I walk back into the house after letting the dogs out and spot Cade moping around the kitchen.
“How you doing?” I say, grabbing the dog food.
“Fine.”
I roll my eyes behind his back and sort the dog bowls out. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“I need you to take Elodie today.” He spins around, fixing me with a pleading look. “I need some space. You can handle her, you can be around her. I can’t do it.”
“I’m going to see Mum today,” I mutter.
Cade’s eyes look red raw. He looks a mess. Hair all over the place, purple bags under his eyes. His aura is stinking up the place with depression.
I press my lips together. “Fine. She can come with me. But only if you promise to get some fucking sleep. You look about ready to collapse.”
He deflates with an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Thank you. I plan to.”
I clap a hand on his shoulder. “You know this isn’t healthy. And suppressing your emotions isn’t healthy either. They’ll only come bursting out of you at the wrong time.”
Cade rolls his eyes. “Thanks, doctor, I’ll be sure to remember that. When I actually feel emotions.”
I chuckle. “You are so full of it, it’s hilarious. But, sure, if denying it keeps you happy, then fine. You have no emotions.” I wink and walk to his room.
I knock and call out to El before walking in. “Good morning.”
She sits up, her head poking just over the mattress. She instantly smiles. The image of her joy in seeing me warms me straight to my rotten core. “Good morning, Alfie.”
I sit down next to her. “We’re going out today.”
“Out?” Her pale face lights up. “Where?”
“Well, don’t get too excited. I’m seeing my mother today, but I thought you could come with me, get you out the house. Unless you’d rather stay here with Fiz and Cade.”
“No, no, no, no, take me with you! You can take me to the dump for all I care. I’d love to come with you.”
I smile at her. “Good, get ready then. We leave in about an hour.”
She leaps to her feet and dashes to the bathroom.
She’s already come so far in the small amount of time she’s been here. Nearly all her bruises are gone now, only the bigger, more brutal ones remain, but they’re yellowing and fading. Her strength’s returning quickly. She’s a fighter. An unapologetic survivor.
I stare at the closed bathroom door and sigh. There’s something about her that pulls you in, I know that much. I understand what Caden’s going through. It’s hard not to be enticed by her. She has a comforting feel about her. Like you could tell her anything and she’d listen and say all the right things and make you feel better. Of course, there are things I’ll never, ever tell her, no matter if she stays with us forever but… it’s nice that she brings that to the house. That feminine charm, the homemaker edge. I know she has it in her. I know she could be a wonderful addition to our family, if she lets herself. If she allows us to knock down those steadfast walls she’s built up, she could be good for us. And we could be good for her.
***
I’m not nervous about bringing Elodie to meet my mother, but I’m not, not nervous. It’ll be easier than introducing her to a girl I’m dating, that’s for sure, but it still brings a thin layer of sweat across my body as I drive us to my childhood home. Bruiser’s in the back, I thought it’d be nice for him to run around his old garden for the afternoon. I hadn’t taken him with me the past couple visits. Plus, Elodie’s at ease around him now, she’s given him enough treats to become his best friend, so I’m glad that’s one problem fixed.
I haven’t seen Mum in a couple weeks, been too busy with work, but she was already doing much better the last time I saw her. She’s recovering well.
“Is it just your mum we’re going to see, or is your dad there too?” El asks hesitantly.
The question shoots a rod up my back. “Just Mum.”
“Is there a dad?”
I lick my teeth. “No.”
The bluntness in my tone keeps her from asking why.
