“Who do you think had to call to reschedule the photographer?” She laughs through her sniffles. “He really hated that jacket.”
“Yeah, he did. Those were good times, right?” I wipe a tear from her cheek.
She grasps my hand in hers and kisses it. “Yes, they were. I miss those days.”
I kiss the back of her hand.
“Well, there’s still time,” I say with enthusiasm. “We could put on some fancy clothes and take way too many pictures,” I joke halfheartedly. “You always liked that.”
And boy, did she. It was actually the one birthday tradition I never looked forward to. But now that it’s gone... I’d happily comply if it brought a piece of my mom back to herself.
“Oh, I don’t know... I’m not sure I’m up for that.”
I already know what she’ll say next. So, I don’t bother pressing the matter further. Instead, I kiss my mother on the forehead and say, “Love you, Mom,” and walk out.
Chapter TWENTY-SIX
Jay
Ithink I’m in trouble.
I scurried back to Caleb’s room, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that Tyler is now waiting for me in the hall.
I crack open the door a little more, allowing for little more than just my head to poke through. I look around. “Yes... ?”
“Caleb wants to see you in the study,” Tyler says.
“For what?”
“You’re not really in a position to ask questions, are you? If he requests an audience with you, you go.”
I ignore his suggestion under the pretense that he knows I can beat him up if needed and ask another question. “Can you at least tell me what it’s about?”
“No.”
“Noyou can’t? Ornoyou won’t?”
“Won’t.” He shrugs.
I study him, narrowing my eyes. I’m all too familiar with defensiveness. Caleb didn’t share what he wants to talk to me about, and Tyler is irritated.
Someone doesn’t like not being in the inner circle.
I smile. “Can’t. Got it.” I shut the door and walk ahead of him, stopping down the hall and turning to face him. “If you don’t mind showing me the way, that would really help.”
He growls, and I don’t pay any mind to it. Because ultimately, what choice does he have? His boss is waiting.
We walk down the corridor and round the stairs. Once descended, we make an immediate right and are standing in front of a walnut door. Tyler knocks.
“Come in,” Caleb says from the other side.
Tyler opens the door with a softclick. An academia-designed office with a thick, walnut executive style desk, a brown leather chair, with evergreen walls and wood molding comes into view. Two built-in bookshelves with cabinets on the bottom line the wall behind the desk chair. Centered between above the cabinet hangs their crest with a hunting dog. Antiquarian books, illuminated by sconces, fill the shelves. The fireplace on the wall adjacent to it is unlit, but the matching leather sofa and recliner cage it in.
Wow.
The room is absolutely stunning.
But I can only imagine with the dust on the books that this room doesn’t get the love or use it should.
