Page 34 of Brood

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Another one?” I hold out the small package of goldfish shaped crackers to Kasin as he bounds up to the picnic table. Five hours after he left, I took Brood’s suggestion, and we walked to the clubhouse, the sun shining high in the sky. It’s a beautiful day, almost beautiful enough to forget what still lurks outside this small town. Kasin extends his hand, reaching for the bag. Instead of taking one out for him, I hold the bag down enough for him to grab one himself. It takes him a few tries, but he gets the cracker clenched between his little fingers. “Nice job Kas.” He beams that smile of his at me then is off again toward the slide.

“He is a very special boy, isn’t he?” Glancing up at the shadow that has suddenly fallen over me, blond hair fills my vision as Cammy takes a seat next to me. I guess her shift at the café is over. I try not to let it bother me that she is here at the clubhouse instead of her own home. Even with what Brood told me I still get an uneasy feeling about her spending time here, with Brood not so far away. Did she come here to see him?

“Yes, he is,” I agree with her because really, this boy is one of a kind.

“You know, when Brood first brought him over to my house, I didn’t know a thing about how to care for a baby. I didn’t let that stop me though. He is like a son to me—”

“Cammy, I have no intention of keeping you from Kasin in any way.” I turn to her, hoping that I’m conveying my sincerity.

“Oh, I know that,” she tells me cockily. “Brood wouldn’t let you. He might think he doesn’t want to be with me, but one day he is going to realize what a great family we made and come back.” Her words keep digging their way into my chest, causing my heart to speed up. “You are his charity project. First, it was his brother, then Kasin’s mom. Now it’s you. The man always needs someone to save. And I hope he does save you, just remember when he does–” She stands up again. “He will go back to where he belongs.” With that, she walks away with a little sway to her hips that I could never pull off. I’m too shocked to move that when Kasin comes back for more crackers, it takes me a minute to realize he is even there in front of me.

“Jor.” His little hand pats mine as the word whispers from his mouth. Suddenly whatever Cammy said to me doesn’t seem to matter.

“Did you just say Jor?” I look down at the little boy who is happily digging away in the cracker bag, completely ignoring my question. Maybe I was just hearing things. “Kas, did you talk?” I ask again this time, getting a small smile from the boy. With a one jerk head nod, he stuffs the cracker in his mouth and takes off again.

We continue to stay outside, me watching as Kasin plays on the playground. It isn’t too long until the crackers are gone, and he is in need of a drink. So am I. A little hesitant to go inside, I almost start walking back to the house when Kasin takes my hand and pulls me toward the back door of the clubhouse. The one that leads right past the kitchen and into the cafeteria. It’s quiet when we step inside, going to the right for the kitchen and the fridge that has been stocked with juices for the kids. I’m a little impressed when I see the whole bottom filled with different drinks for kids, thinking that when I opened the door I would find only beer. And certainly not things for kids. This is a completely different clubhouse though, isn’t it? The one I’m used to would only have the beer, and I sure wouldn’t have the freedom to even open it if I wanted.

I shake off the thought and help Kasin get the straw poked through the hole so he can drink. “Hot day out there, isn’t it?” The loud sputtering of a straw picking up the last bits of liquid echo around the kitchen as Show steps in through the door, leaning against the wall casually.

“Yes, it is. We just came in for the drink, we’ll be—”

“You don’t need to leave.” He shakes his head to emphasize his words. “Come on, I will bring you both to Brood.” He tosses his empty juice box into a nearby trashcan and jerks his head for us to follow. Not wanting to be rude, I do as he says, Kasin following along. As if on instinct Kasin’s hand reaches out and grabs onto mine. My head darts down to look at him, but he doesn’t seem too fazed, just keeps walking as if holding my hand happens all the time. It’s a feeling I don’t even know how to deal with. As well as the next feeling I get when Show leads us to a room labeled office. The voices inside make my stomach do summersaults and my heart to beat just a little bit faster.

“Oh, that is good.” Brood’s amused voice is the first one I hear. Then Cammy’s.

“I thought you would like that,” she hums.

I do my best to keep it together on the outside when really on the inside I’m falling into a million little pieces. The door is already open a crack, so when Kasin hears his dad inside he darts past Show and me, throwing open the door to get to his father. I think about pulling the little boy back, but I’m a little thrown off to even think properly right now. A little string of laughter catches my ears, then grows louder when Kasin enters the room

“Kas. What are you doing here?” Brood chuckles, picking his boy up into his arms. I watch, stock still, as Kasin returns the hug. Then my eyes drift over to where Cammy is perched on Brood’s desk, right on the corner where certain things would be eye level when he sat back down. While he was sitting down.

“Found these two in the kitchen getting juice,” Show explains.

“You mean you were getting juice,” Brood grumbles. “We need to keep restocking the fridge because you won’t leave them for the kids.”

“Can’t help it if they’re good. Like that fruit punch one,” he states, then I notice how his gaze shifts, looking Cammy over. “Cam. Got a sec?”

“I’m busy Show,” she tells Show the same time Brood says, “She was just leaving.”

“Looks like you got a sec.” Show gives a smile I haven’t see on his face before, unsure and not at all the confident playful guy I’m used to. Cammy huffs and gets off the desk, straightening out her short skirt when she does.

“Fine.” She struts past Show leaving him to trail behind.

“Hey. I wasn’t sure if you would come in or not.” Brood settles Kas onto his leg as he reaches out and grabs something to scribble on with a pen he finds on the desk.

I fidget with my hands looking everywhere except at Brood. “Oh. Yeah. Well, Kas got thirsty and…”

“Something wrong, Jor?”

I let out a sigh, this time looking directly at him. “No. Nothing is wrong.” I absolutely hate that my words hold a slight edge of bitchiness to them.

Brood straightens then picks up Kasin, placing him back onto the seat by himself. “Kas, we are going to step out the door for a sec.” Brood pulls down a small tub of something, then a book of some kind, placing it down in front of Kasin. It’s then that I realize it’s a coloring book and some crayons. The little boy’s grin grows on his face as he gets to work coloring.

That’s when Brood takes me by the elbow and steers me out of the room, leaving the door open a small crack. Much like it was when I heard him talking to Cammy. “Something is bothering you.” His gaze sharpens as he steps in closer, caging me to the wall of the small hallway.

“Like I said, nothing is–”

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