Rydeville Elite Epilogue #9

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Abby

I pace the hallway, chewing on the bottom of my lip, trying to keep my panic at bay but it’s futile. Kai has been gone for hours, and it shouldn’t be taking this long. My feet make no noise as I walk to the front door and open it, staring anxiously into the pitch-black nighttime sky, willing them to appear, as if I can conjure them from thought alone.

An insect chorus tickles my eardrums as I lean against the door frame, and I find the croaking, buzzing combination of frogs, crickets, and cicadas soothing in its familiarity.

Behind me, the only sound in the house is the quiet chiming of the old grandfather clock. It belonged to Mom’s parents and was one of the few items of furniture we found in an old storage outbuilding that survived the fire. With the help of a local expert, Kai painstakingly restored it, and now it occupies pride of place in our hall.

I rub at the pain pressing down on my chest, my heart so consumed with concern for Oli I don’t hear our eldest daughter approaching.

“Mom,” Talia softly says. “What’s going on? Why are you standing at the door in the middle of the night?”

I won’t lie to her. She’s eighteen now, technically an adult, and she’s always adopted a mothering approach with her siblings. “Oli was arrested. Dad’s gone to get him.”

Breathing is challenging as all manner of emotions attempts to strangle me from the inside. Shock mixes with fear and incredulity. Oli has always been mischievous but this…this is on a whole other level. Oli is one of my babies, and I can’t believe this has happened. The intensity of all I’m feeling is suffocating, and I just need them to fucking come home.

“Shit.” She nibbles on her lower lip as her brow puckers. “What did he do?”

I wrap my arms around myself. “I don’t know. The cop who called didn’t say much, and I haven’t heard from your father except for a text confirming he’d met Brian Moore at the station.” Though our lawyer has helped us with various legal matters over the years, this is a first for him and us.

“I wish he’d talk to me.” Talia sighs, rubbing her bare arms.

Closing the door, I pull my precious girl into my arms. “I wish he’d talk to someone . I hate knowing something is wrong and he won’t tell anyone.” It’s not from lack of trying. For months now, Kai and I have tried everything to get Oli to open up, but he won’t talk to us.

“Do you think Henry knows?” she asks as we pad quietly along the hallway. “Is that why they’re not speaking?”

“I think it’s connected, but Henry is as tight-lipped as your brother. Demi and Charlie have tried talking to him, but he refuses to tell them what caused the rift.” Oli and Henry are more like brothers than cousins, so their disagreement and separation has got to be hurting them. They’ll be seniors this year, and it’s a special time. I hate they might spend it apart.

“I can try talking to him or ask Jane.”

“No.” I shake my head as we enter the kitchen. “Neither of you should interfere.” The girls are best friends, and Jane is excited for Talia to join her this year at Rydeville University. I head straight for the kettle, taking it to the sink to fill it up. “Don’t let what’s going on with your brothers cause any issues in your friendship. I doubt the boys would confide in you anyway.” Teenage boys are generally secretive in my experience.

We sit on stools at the island unit as the kettle boils. “I hate seeing Oli like this. I hate that he’s pushing all of us away. I’m so worried about him,” she admits.

A tender smile plays on my lips as I tuck Talia’s long dark hair behind her ears. She’s so pretty and the only one of my kids that bears any resemblance to me. The others are all the spitting image of Kai. Not that I’m complaining. My heart fills with pride as my thoughts focus on our kids.

Our children are good humans and our greatest achievement. They have filled our hearts and this home with love and laughter. Whatever is going on with our eldest son doesn’t detract from the joy he has brought into our lives, and I’m determined to find out what’s wrong so I can help him navigate it. Being a teenager is hard. I fully remember the complexity of emotions and challenges developing hormones present.

I press a kiss to my daughter’s brow. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t worry, but that’s our job. This is a magical time for you. The summer before you start college. I want you to enjoy yourself. Go out and party and let loose.”

Talia’s nose wrinkles in distaste, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry as I get up to make us herbal tea. “You’ve worked hard, sweetie, and it’s okay to let your hair down sometimes.”

Talia has given us zero issues growing up. She’s an amazing girl. She seems to enjoy her studies, and she graduated top of her class. She was on the debate team, the swim team, and the first to volunteer to help organize school activities. She’s been a solid support to her siblings, and she willingly helps around the house without being asked. Her sweet personality radiates from the goodness in her heart. But I worry she is missing out on the important things in life. She hasn’t had a boyfriend, and she’s only ever gone on a handful of dates. It’s not from lack of male interest or lack of attraction to men. We’ve had that discussion. She likes boys just fine.

“Boys are a distraction from my life goals, Mom, and I don’t need a man to feel fulfilled.”

See? Some would say I’m ridiculous for worrying about her, but she’s so serious, and is it wrong to just want her to be young and carefree? God knows there’s enough responsibility and serious shit lying in store for her when she gets older. Now is the time to mess around, have fun, and enjoy life.

Jane has always been mature too, but she strikes the right balance. She dated during high school, and she has a steady boyfriend now. She seems to have thoroughly enjoyed her freshman year at RU, so I’m crossing everything that she’ll coax Talia out of her shell.

“That’s not what I’m saying,” I clarify as I make the tea. “Of course, you don’t need a man to feel fulfilled, but they come in handy for other stuff.” I flash a grin as I walk back to her, carrying two mugs.

“Oh gawd, Mom.” Her cheeks pink before she dips her chin, using her hair to hide her face. “Stop, just stop.”

I place a mug in front of her before reclaiming my stool. “I just want you to be happy, honey.”

“I am happy, Mom, and—” She blows air out of her mouth. Her nose scrunches again, and the next words out of her mouth sound like they pain her. “If you must know, I’m going on a double date with Jane and Felix on Saturday.”

“That’s great!” I’m beaming as I lift my mug to my lips and take a sip.

Talia narrows her eyes. “Don’t go getting ideas. Jane basically blackmailed me into going. Apparently, Felix’s best friend has been crushing on me or something, but I’m only going to get Jane off my back. It’s not like I’m interested in Brody.”

“If you say so.” You couldn’t wipe the grin off my face even if you scrubbed at it. I make a mental note to thank Jane.

“Mom!” She enunciates the word. “Quit acting like I’ve agreed to marry the dude. It’s one date, and it’ll be the only one.”

“Promise me one thing, and I’ll drop the subject.”

“What?” The suspicion in her eyes has me giggling.

“Go into it with an open mind. Don’t shut yourself off to the possibility of Brody before you’ve even tried. You might surprise yourself and like him. Would that be such a bad thing?”

“I’ll be a freshman soon, and I’ll be too busy for boys.”

“That’s nine weeks away, love. You could have a summer fling.” I wonder if Brody goes to RU. I also wonder if any other mom has to practically beg her daughter to date and go to parties.

“Jesus.” She shakes her head. “I think you’re the only mom encouraging her kid to go out and have sex.”

“Hang on here now.” I quickly sober up. “I did not say that. I want you to have some fun. Kissing boys is tons of fun without the need to go any further. No one should pressure you into sex, and I would never do that. It should always be in your own time. When you’re ready.”

“How old were you?” she asks, tilting her head to one side.

“When I lost my virginity?”

She nods.

“Seventeen, and it was with your father.”

“Really?”

I bob my head. “He’s the only man I’ve been intimate with.” I love I can have this kind of honest conversation with my daughter as much as I love confirming her father has been the only one for me.

The biggest smile ghosts over her mouth. “I think that’s so romantic and sweet.”

My answering smile matches hers. “I think so too.”

“That’s what I want,” she whispers, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “I want what you and Dad have. I don’t want to settle for anything less. All my friends gush over you two. We all want to find a love like that. You’re like couple goals for sure.”

Maybe I’m wrong for pushing her. I’m probably worrying too much and overreacting. Let her find her Mr. Right in her own time. “I count my blessings every day for your dad and all of you.” I squeeze her hand. “I love my life, and I hope one day you find a man as wonderful as your father. Someone who worships the ground you walk on and supports you through all the ups and downs life brings. You deserve to be adored and cherished.”

“I doubt I’ll find anyone as amazing as Dad. He’s one of a kind, but hopefully one day I’ll find the one .” She makes little air quotes with her fingers. “I don’t feel like I should have to kiss a hundred frogs to find my prince. When I meet him, I’ll know.”

A loud bang from the hallway claims our attention, and we’re up on our feet at the same time.

“Just drop it, Dad!” Oli shouts as pounding footsteps approach.

I reach the arch between the hall and the main living space just as Oli approaches from the other side. Kai is closing the gap behind him, wearing a face like thunder. “Your face,” I blurt as my gaze rakes over my son. His left eye is half swollen, and he has a cut on his lip and a gash on his cheek. “What happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Oli brushes past me like a tornado and though I yearn to reach for him, to pull him into my arms, to press kisses into his hair, and murmur reassuring words, I don’t make a move toward him. He won’t let me comfort him and he’s not a little kid anymore. “I’m going to bed.” He stomps through the living area and out toward the bedrooms at the back.

My heart aches. “What is going on?” I ask my husband, placing one hand on his heaving chest and peering up at him.

“He won’t tell me a goddamned thing.” Kai’s frustration bleeds into the air.

“I’m gonna help clean Oli up,” Talia says, holding the medical kit she obviously retrieved from the cabinet.

“Maybe he’ll tell you why he was arrested for fighting and found with oxy in his possession because he sure as shit will not tell me.”