I stilled, all other thoughts and argument vanished.“My cousin?”I asked.
She was looking down at her book and nodded.“Yes.Calvin arrived this morning.He was worried about Elsie not leaving her room and Winslet said she hadn’t been eating much.”
I was on my feet.
Mom lifted her head, and her mouth curved into a knowing grin that I did not want to be mad at her about.“I’ll make your cheese grits in the morning.But bring Calvin and Elsie with you.I’d love to see my nephew and meet this young woman who is such a good friend.I hear she’s very pleasant and helpful.Despite the horror she’s suffered in her life.”
And if I didn’t bring them, I was sure Oz would.Dammit.
She hadn’t been eating?Or leaving her room?Why the hell hadn’t I been told?Why was Calvin the one Oz had contacted?He wasn’t needed here.
“I’m going, but it’s not why you think.I didn’t know she was having a hard time.She had been fine the last time I saw her.”
“You mean before or after you screamed at her to go away?”Mom asked it so sweetly that it was almost as if she wasn’t being sarcastic.
“I’m going to apologize for that.”
She nodded.“I know.Now, run along and make things right.Calvin is a handsome young man, but he’s not you.That Savelle DNA is a fierce weapon.”
Forty
Elsie
Calvin didn’t want to explore the property, which I was thankful for because I could not have sat through a picnic with him at the pond.Not after what I’d done with Forge there.Instead, he went the opposite way, and we found a large oak tree with a nice shade.
Like he always did, he asked me a lot of questions.He was never one to make it all about him.He was curious and cared about those he allowed into his circle.
Not talking about Forge was hard, but I was afraid if I did, Calvin would read the truth about things in my eyes.He knew me too well.I kept the conversation off Forge the best that I could.
When I was finally able to get the topic turned to his life, I peppered him with questions about the set, filming, his new roommate, and what his next project was.
I ate more than I’d thought I could, and it was clear he was pleased about that.But he had brought my favorites.It had been a sure way to get me to eat.
“Oz thinks there’s a good chance you will be safe to leave soon,” Calvin said, his tone more solemn.
He did?Forge had thought I would require protection for a while.Had that changed in the past few days?
“Oh,” I replied, not sure how I felt about it.Yes, I wanted to be free to leave this property, but that also meant I would be leaving Forge.
“Yeah, the Louisiana branch spoke with Telos Kris’s men.He said he got his point across.You were lucky not to have been home.No reason to waste time tracking you down.”
I was lucky not to have been home.Bile burned my throat.Lucky?Lucky that my parents had been murdered?No, I wasn’t lucky.
“While I’m here, why don’t we watch your parents’ funeral together?And before you say anything, hear me out.You need that piece of closure for them.I know losing them will always be a part of your life.It won’t go away, but you need to have that finality.If that makes sense.”
I need finality?
No, it didn’t make sense.But I did want to know their life had been respected and acknowledged.I hadn’t wanted to think about that video because I wasn’t sure how watching it would affect me.Having Calvin here, however, made it seem less daunting.If I fell apart, I would have him beside me.
“Okay,” was all I could manage.
I’d watch it.With him.
The relief on his face was immediate.I knew that had been hard for him to bring up.
“When you do have the green light to leave, you can’t go back to your house.Not yet.The house—it’s still a crime scene.Until the investigation is complete, they can’t allow anyone inside.”
I wasn’t sure I could go back there anyway.Walk inside and know what had happened.But there were things I wanted.Things of my parents’.Memories.
