Chapter 13
AS THEY WALKED up to the house Naomi explained to Trent, “This was my father and brother’s plan to move away from the city.
” She pointed to the next closest house.
“Our dad lives there and Ethan bought this with the money our grandparents left him.” She nodded toward Ethan’s garage where Ethan was pulling in.
“My camper’s behind that. I know I told you he had a three-bedroom house, but one of the rooms is his office, so, uh, you can have my room in there and I’ll sleep in my camper. ”
“Absolutely not.” Trent shook his head. “You’re looking at a cowboy here. I’ve slept on a bedroll on hard ground for a big chunk of my life. The camper will be a luxury for me, a step up from sleeping in the Olsens’ barn. Plus, I won’t hear Levi’s snoring.”
Ethan opened the side door of the house and waved them in. To his sister, he said, “You better go back and pull your SUV into the garage for tonight. Looks like we’re gonna get some heavy snow.”
Trent shook his head, eyeing the sky. “Looks clear enough to me. Did you hear a weather report?”
Ethan narrowed his eyes at him. “No. Just better safe than sorry.”
Trent followed Naomi into the house. The place might have been nice and stylish twenty years ago, but it was obviously redecorated in lazy-bachelor chic.
Dirty dishes filled the sink, crumbs littered the counter and table, and the light fixtures were grimy, but Trent didn’t notice those things as much as he evaluated the man by the open trash can filled with empty beer cans.
“Sit anywhere, Trent,” Ethan said as they went into the living room. Ethan’s hospitality was abrupt and limited. To Naomi, he said, “Well, let’s not waste any time, sis. Do you want me to bring Dad over here now or shall we go visit him at his place?”
Naomi glanced at Trent who was lowering himself onto the couch. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. “Let me go over and check on him,” she said, her voice cautious. “I want to see him alone, by myself.”
Ethan nodded, but his jaw tightened. “Fine. Just don’t let him fool you. He’s not himself anymore, Naomi.”
Before she could reply, a sharp knock on the front door startled all three of them. Naomi’s eyes flashed to Ethan, who muttered, “I’ll get it,” his voice low and guarded.
Trent started to rise, his instincts prickling as Ethan strode toward the door and yanked it open.
Standing on the threshold, bundled against the cold in an oversized coat and mismatched gloves, was a man Trent guessed was their father. John Foster’s hair was wild, his face unshaven, and his eyes darted around as if unsure of where to focus.
“Dad?” Naomi’s voice was laced with surprise and concern.
“Naomi! Ethan!” John’s voice boomed as he pushed inside. He clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “I saw you pull in. Thought I’d come say hello.”
Ethan stiffened but said nothing as their father scanned the room. His gaze landed on Trent, and his expression turned suspicious. “And who’s this? Finally, a boyfriend for you, Naomi?”
“Dad, no.” Naomi’s cheeks flushed. “This is Trent. He’s a friend from the ranch I’m consulting at.”
“Ranch, huh?” John squinted at Trent, then grinned broadly. “Bet you’ve never wrestled a bull in a snowstorm like I did back in ’74. Tough times then, let me tell you.”
Trent gave a polite nod, but his stomach churned. Something was clearly off. Ethan rolled his eyes and Naomi frowned.
“Dad,” Naomi said gently, “I was just coming over to see you at your home.”
“Home?” John barked a laugh. “That’s not my home! That’s a prison, and you both know it.” He began pacing, his gestures erratic. “They’re watching me there, you know. Got cameras in the vents, microphones in the walls. They think I don’t notice, but I do.”
Ethan shot Naomi a pointed look, his arms crossed. “This is what I’ve been dealing with, Naomi. I told you.”
“Dad,” Naomi said, her voice soft but firm, “there are no cameras. It’s just your house. No one’s watching you.”
“Don’t contradict me!” John snapped, his voice rising. “You think I’m crazy? I’m not crazy! You’re the ones who don’t see it. They’re after me, Naomi. They want to take everything I’ve got. My pension. My social security. All my lottery winnings.”
“He’s never bought a lottery ticket or ridden a bull,” Ethan mumbled.
Trent felt the tension in the room spike as John’s ramblings grew more frantic. Naomi moved closer to her father, her hand reaching out to steady him.
“Dad,” she said softly, “it’s just us here. No one else. No cameras. Why don’t we sit down and talk?”
John slapped her hand away, his movements jerky. “No time for sitting! They’re coming for me, Naomi. Coming to take me away, just like they did to your mother. Don’t you remember? She warned me before she—” His voice broke, and he turned away, rubbing his temples.
Ethan stepped forward, his expression grim. “This is why we need to do it, Naomi. He’s not safe on his own anymore.”
Naomi’s eyes filled with tears. She turned to Trent, her voice trembling. “What do you think?”
Trent nodded, his chest heavy. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I see it.”
John spun around suddenly, his eyes wide. “Don’t you dare think about locking me up! I’m not going anywhere!” He pointed a trembling finger at Ethan, then Naomi. “You’re supposed to protect me, not betray me.”
Naomi stepped back, her voice breaking. “Dad, we’re just trying to help you.”
“Help?” John scoffed, his voice filled with bitterness. “You’re just like the rest of them.”
Before anyone could respond, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The room was silent. Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Well, that went about as I expected.”
“But he was fine at Christmas.” Naomi sank onto a chair, burying her face in her hands. Trent stood frozen, his heart aching for her. He wanted to say something—anything—but the abruptness of the situation left him speechless.
Finally, he sat down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re doing the right thing, Naomi. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.”
She looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed but resolute. “I hope so. I really hope so.” She looked over at Ethan who was opening his bag. “You’re getting the papers out, aren’t you? Okay, I’ll sign them.”