Chapter 23 #2
“There’s nowhere else I need to be. Now, here, shush and take these. You have a fever, sweetheart. Please just don’t fight me on this.” I watch with satisfaction when she relents and takes the pills, downing them with the water.
“I’ll be fine,” she groans. “Can you plug my phone in, and see if my alarm is set? Noah has school tomorrow. Can’t be late,” she whispers as she falls back asleep.
Plugging in her phone, I go in, notate what time she has alarms set for, and shut them off. She needs rest. Taking a peek through her phone, I skim through her messages. Some might call it an invasion of privacy, but I call it information gathering. I need to know who she messaged recently.
Satisfaction goes through me when I don’t see Matt’s name anywhere recent, but that thrill is quickly replaced with concern.
There’s no one. What the fuck? How are the last messages she sent to me, and whoever Annie is?
I’m assuming she works at the library because Cora messaged her to say she would be out sick for the day.
Why didn’t she message me, or anyone for help?
Glancing down at my girl, I switch her phone to silent and head downstairs.
Noah is parked on the couch, and I know it’s now well after nine. Standing next to the sofa, I gesture at it, silently asking if I can sit. Noah shrugs his shoulders, so I take that as an invitation to join him.
I figured a kid his age would be watching something with superheroes in it or a cartoon, but not this one. He’s watching a show about insects. “Are you into bugs?” I ask him. He’s important to Cora and seems like an okay kid.
“It’s quiet,” he responds.
“Quiet?” I ask in confusion.
“Yeah. My shows are loud, and I don’t want to wake up Cora,” he explains, making my chest crack. He’s watching some show about bugs so he doesn’t wake her up.
“That’s nice of you.” Looking around the room, I take in the photos of the two of them, noticing the lack of other people in them. Testing the waters, I tune out the show and ask, “So, is it just the two of you?”
“Yep.”
“Oh? So… no dad?”
“No.”
A part of me doesn’t want to keep pressing, but I can’t deny I’m curious.
Taking another look at the photos, I see some of the early ones look like he can’t be more than two or three.
“Gotcha.” He looks uncomfortable, so I drop it, and we go back to watching a documentary about fireflies, by the looks of it.
I’m paying only partial attention to it.
“They’re dead,” he blurts out.
I’m stunned silent for a minute. I don’t know what to say about that.
Wait, he said they’re dead.
“Our parents died when I was two. Cora takes care of me.” He glances at me briefly.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” So, she’s not his mom, just his sister.
What else do you say to a seven-year-old whose parents are dead? I can’t ignore the small part of me that’s glad Cora doesn’t have a kid with someone else. One less person to get rid of.
“It’s whatever.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I have Cora.”
A piece of my heart breaks for Cora, and in its place, Noah slides in. “So, it’s just the two of you? No other people?” I ask, fishing for answers when he should be in bed. Pretty sure it’s a school night.
“Yep.”
“No one comes over?”
“Just Mila and Mara.”
Nodding, I breathe a bit easier. No guys, then.
“Oh, and Matt,” he adds as if an afterthought.
I feel a flash of anger ripple through me at the mention of his name. Fucking Matt. He was here the other night, but I can’t figure out how he fits into it.
“Is that her boyfriend?” I ask, already detesting the way it sounds. I know she said he wasn’t, but I need to find out how much he’s around.
“No. Cora doesn’t have one. Matt is Dane’s brother.”
“Who’s Dane?” Why are there so many guys?
“My friend from school.”
Now it makes sense. He’s always around because Noah is friends with his brother. I guess I’ll just have to make sure I’m a bit more present now, especially when Noah adds, “Yeah. He coaches my soccer team.”
Slimy bastard.
“You play?” I stupidly ask, knowing full well he has a bag of gear upstairs.
“Yep. I have a game on Saturday morning. You could come,” he offers, and just like that, I think I have some form of acceptance.
“Thanks, I’ll be there.” I don’t care if it’s pouring rain or fucking blizzarding. I’ll be there. Noticing the time on the wall clock, I glance his way. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe, yes?” I quirk a brow at him. His smile tells me he knows he should be. “Probably best to head to bed, kid.”
“Will Cora take me to school tomorrow? Isn’t she still sick?”
“She’s still sick, but it’s okay. I’ll take you.” I don’t mind taking him if it means she can rest longer. After I get him squared away, I’ll check on her.
“I don’t know if Cora will be okay with that.” He looks unsure.
“Nah. It’s fine. She needs her rest, and I’m up early anyway,” I toss out, hoping he agrees.
“Okay. Cora hates it when I’m late. The secretary is mean to her.”
Holding in my laugh, I just nod along. “No problem. We’ll get you there on time.”
Noah nods in agreement and heads upstairs.
I wait until I hear a door close, then head upstairs as well.
The need to check on her is overwhelming, even though it’s only been about forty-five minutes.
Slowly entering her room, I watch her sleeping form on the bed and wish I could crawl in right beside her, but I take comfort in knowing our time is coming soon.
Taking her temperature one last time, I’m satisfied that it’s gone down a bit. Leaving the water on her nightstand, I head back downstairs to settle in for the night.
The TV is still playing the documentary as I put most of the soup in the freezer, leaving one for the fridge. There’s no point in going back across town to my place when this is where I want to be. Where I need to be. I will prove to Cora that she can count on me. My girl will not be alone anymore.
Turning off all the lights and double-checking the door is locked, I settle onto the couch.
Pulling a blanket off the back of the sofa to get comfortable, I look around for the remote.
Shit, I have no idea where the kid put it.
Oh well. Closing my eyes, I fall asleep as the narrator continues to describe fireflies and mating rituals.