Asha stopped abruptly watching the way Faith was alluding to being on her way.
“I’ve only just arrived, I was hoping we could chat. He keeps dozing off despite his ability to recall everything I’ve been babbling about. Having someone who’s actually lucid and engaged in conversation would be a good change of pace.”
She was teasing. The charm that I so rarely saw was now on full display as she smiled genially at my mother silently imploring her to stay. Whatever Faith had on her docket wouldn’t allow her to be taken off course.
“If it’s alright with you we can exchange numbers and perhaps meet when you’ve got a free moment. You’re a doctor, correct?”
It was clear Pappy, or Matty had shared that information with her. “Yes, but Ph.D. not MD.”
“And no less impressive.” Faith was smooth with soothing Asha’s ego by having to leave while also complimenting her. I knew she meant every word but still the way she’d done it was admirable.
“I’d like that if it’s okay with you.” Asha directed the last part of her statement to me, which was surprising. I guess because of the distance between the two of us she was unsure if I would want them to be friendly to one another but I had no issue with it.
“By all means.”
Asha gave me a smile so brilliant that I was worried my heart monitor was going to give away how I was feeling.
“Perfect. Then let’s eat until we lose him again to the Sandman.”
“She seems lovely.” Asha was moving about the room and I was watching her once again irritated by my inability to help.
“She does.” And that was the truth. Faith had been cordial, able to discuss a bunch of topics without it getting awkward. I’d dozed on and off but knew they’d kept up a stream of conversation. Pappy’s parting words were a warning for me not to mess up and Faith had squeezed my hand and thanked me for letting her stay.
“So what’s the issue then? She’s popped back at an odd time. I must say I was thrown off seeing her here. I was torn between wanting to pick her brain about you and wanting to pull it out of her through her nose the way the Egyptians did when they mummified a body.”
I was surprised. She was either an excellent actress or she was truly this passionate about protecting me. “All that?”
Asha glanced up from where she was packing up the rest of the food smiling. “We’ve already discussed the fact that you have a mother wound. She’s the mother. I have every reason to be wary of her and her intentions with you.”
“You sound almost protective.”
“Of course I am. Ink’s not dry yet and I would be very unhappy if I’ve given into the upheaval that you’ve caused in my life only for you to be double-crossed or some foolishness like that. The idea of your survival is not all that abhorrent to me anylonger.” She was moving around and cleaning up the remnants of the food after Pappy and Faith left, looking mildly frustrated. I was sure it was because of the battle of her emotions but I wanted clarity.
“Fancy way of saying that you’re okay with me still breathing air.”
She paused then smiled with narrowed eyes like she couldn’t believe I was forcing the issue. “That’s exactly what I said. What do you mean?”
“There’s a wound. I’m not sure of the details because I feel as though some have been hidden from me.”
“On purpose.”
“Yes.”
“Is she a potential threat?”
She asked like a soldier taking report from a commander and I had to question when my wife to be would trust me with the secrets of her past. It was easy for me to ignore them now because I had my own shit I didn’t want to discuss. But the longer this thing with us lasted the more it became real. And that realness would put us both into territory that we weren’t ready or potentially equipped to handle. We seemed to get there so despite my desire to know I chose not to press the issue again. It didn’t seem like anything that would come back to haunt us. If it was something like she’d had an army of pay pigs likeWilburit wouldn’t change our arrangement or her standing in my eyes.
“Physically, no.”
“Are you sure? I’m shocked at how little hesitation you had when you said that.”
Hell, I was too but I didn’t want to give her mind a chance to latch onto anything that would make this situation even more complicated than it already was.
“She’s good.”
Asha hesitated and I knew it was there because she thought I wasn’t giving my mother the credit to kill because she was a woman. But none of that was true. “Well, now, it seems we have two mysteries to solve.”
“What do you mean?”
