2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Charlie Gibson
I need Remi.
I need our girlfriend. I could care less how she came to be at the hospital, because seeing her walking towards Carlotta’s room gave me a measure of relief.
What is this going to do to Mitch?
“... flight leaves tomorrow morning. Charlie?” Staring out the window at the rain pouring down in sheets, my mom’s soft voice all but lost, while my mind races. How am I going to keep Mitch safe from himself? “Charlie?”
“Huh? Sorry, did… did you say you’re not flying back until tomorrow?” Their general lack of concern over any matters in Lake Hollow shouldn’t come as a bombshell. That includes their remaining offspring. “Mom, it’s not like you need to book a flight. You have a private jet for God’s sake. Mitchell isn’t taking his antidepressants, he’s been staying in Lala’s room for hours at a time, now she’s gone.” I don’t talk back to my parents often. Okay, next to never. This time it’s warranted because we can’t let Mitch do something that’s unfixable.
“Charles Daniel, don’t speak to me that way. We’re in Singapore, we can’t just snap our fingers and be back in Minnesota. We both have faith in your ability to keep him safe. It’ll be a couple of days, but we should be there before the funeral.” Fuck me. What if I don’t have faith in myself? He doesn’t listen to anything I say to him.
My hand rubs over the drawing Remi did of three hearts twisted together on my left side while we laid in the hammock outside Cal’s townhome. If I make a plea to keep Cal and Remi with us, maybe I’ll feel better about Mitchell’s behavior. Doubtful. I have to try something.
My plan has always been to talk Mitchell into leaving with me, now nothing is holding him here anymore and I’m the one not wanting to leave after handing my heart over to Remi. Our conversation wraps up after dad takes the phone back issuing orders to me. Biting back what I want to say to him is a well-practiced necessity. He wouldn’t listen anyway.
Cal’s leaning against the wall when I turn away from the window. “Wilder is up to something.” Back to this again. I bet he is, but I don’t give a damn right now. “He was whispering something to her. Fuck, they were holding hands.” He throws his arms up. Please, Cal, please tuck this away. I’m managing Mitchell’s feelings, don’t put this on me, too.
“Remi’s too smart to fall for his bullshit.” I try to reason with him. He makes a face at me, and I cut him off as he opens his mouth, “Not right now. Okay, please?”
Things are going to blow up between them. It’s been coming for six years, now he’s stepped on a landmine by becoming a part of Remi’s life. Sadly, it won’t change anything. Sara and Katie are still going to be lost to us. Wilder will never admit what he did.
Or why.
“I have to ask for a favor.” Am I pushing my luck by asking him to do this? Maybe, but I never ask him for anything. I’m always the one trying to offer him things, not that he usually accepts.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Most people don’t announce they’re going to ask a question. Why do you do that?” He rolls his eyes in exasperation. “Just ask, man.”
“Would you come stay at the house until after Carlotta’s funeral? I can’t watch Mitchell on my own. I’m worried, I’m really worried,” my voice catches, “That he’s going to hurt himself.”
Quick to give me a one arm hug, he agrees. Noting that it shouldn’t be on me to watch my adult brother, like I don’t already realize that. “But this whole Wilder thing… we need to get a handle on it. It didn’t make me feel comfortable having her living next door to him. Now that he… fuck, what is going on between them?” Cal crosses his arms over his chest, his voice fraught with anger.
It’s not like I didn’t notice the hand holding or the familiarity, but I trust Remi’s instincts. If she feels like something is ‘off’ she’ll say something.
He’d be stupid to hurt her. Or anyone again.
She has two boyfriends that will do anything to protect her. That includes getting him put behind bars for what he’s already gotten away with.
I didn’t need much of an excuse to contact the police about the weird shit going on at Remi’s cabin, the vandalism, Carlotta’s accident. They all started after he showed back up in Lake Hollow. His ‘visions’ are a joke, it’s all for show. Just a foreshadowing for his bad deeds.