Page 8 of Fight Or Flight

“Sure it does,” Rob argues, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Wait till you see her. Total babe.”

Why no one smacks him around is beyond me.

Suddenly mom starts stalking toward the hallway and all thoughts of my idiot brother are suspended as I slide off the stool to chase after her. After all, someone needs to prepare her for what she’s about to walk in on. I call after her but it's no use. When Lauren Bianci-Montgomery has her mind made up, no one’s changing it. It’s a quality I’ve always been proud to share.

She reaches the chapel and the sound of Joss’ voice halts the both of us.

“How did he die?” the sick woman questions from behind the door.

I close my eyes for a second, dreading my dad’s response, but he remains quiet. That’s when my mom opens the door. I follow her inside just as my dad lifts his head and stares at both of us. My mom doesn’t meet his gaze though, she just stares at Joss and Brooklyn, connecting the dots before anyone can do it for her.

“Kitten,” dad calls, but the use of the nickname falls on deaf ears.

“I’m so sorry,” Mom chokes, her eyes still focused on the mother and daughter duo. I give her credit, connecting the dots, and still being able to stare them in the eye. I can’t do it.

“Joss, this is my wife, Kitten—er, I mean Lauren and Eric you’ve already met.”

Joss looks at me and smiles faintly, then glances back at dad.

“I chose to name our daughter Brooklyn because it’s where I knew he lived, and you named your son after him.”

I don’t mean to look at Brooklyn, but as soon as her mom mentions her name my eyes seem to have a mind of their own. Twenty minutes ago, she was the most gorgeous girl I’d ever seen and now, it actually hurts to look at her.

“Naming him Eric was Kitten’s idea,” my dad reveals.

I tear my gaze away from Brooklyn to stare at him for a moment. The man on the verge of a breakdown locks eyes with my mom.

“It seemed only fitting,” my mom sputters. Her blue eyes flit back to Joss. “You asked how he died…” Her voice trails and she turns to me. Grabbing my hand, she pulls me to her side. I tower over her by a good six inches, but in that second, I feel like a little boy. Tears fall from the corners of my mom’s eyes and when she finally finds the courage to continue, speaking our truth. “Bones died a hero. He saved our lives.”

Our hero.

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