Page 145 of The Persistence of Thornes
When dinner is ready, I make up plates for all four of us and call for the boys to join us.
As Casen comes down the stairs on his butt—finding it much easier than hobbling precariously from one to another—it’s hard not to wish time would move more quickly so he can be cast-free again. At his follow-up, the doctor was hopeful he could be in a walking boot before Christmas.
Christmas.
The holiday is only a few weeks away, and I haven’t bought a single gift. My brothers will be easy enough to shop for, but Caleb? I’ve yet to figure out what to get the man who has everything.
Seda heads home after dinner and my brothers shock me by asking me to watch a movie with them. Armed with bowls of ice cream, we lounge on the couch to watch a racing movie I’ve never heard of. It’s not my kind of thing, but I’m happy to be included.
Rather than focus on the movie, I study them. They’re turning into pretty decent young men, and with any luck, I won’t fuck this whole thing up.
They’re at a pivotal point in their lives, and they’re stuckwith their older sister as their only parental figure. I’m not sure how well that bodes for them.
When the movie is over, the boys settle in for the night, and after I’ve washed my face and changed into pajamas, I check on them, standing in the doorway, close to tears. I might not be a mother yet, but I’ve played a part in raising my brothers since they were newborns. In a month, they’ll be fifteen. Before I know it, they’ll be driving. Then eighteen is around the corner. And with these milestones will come girls, cars, jobs, maybe even college. They’ll live entire lives.
Casen catches me in the doorway as he adjusts the pillow behind his head. “Oh no, Quinn. She’s doing it.”
“Doing what?” Quinn asks, rolling over and groans. “Halle, stop reminiscing. It makes you all teary, and we’re not good with tears and shit.”
“I’m fine,” I say, the choked words belying the sentiment. “Just thinking about how quickly you guys are growing up.”
“Yeah.” Quinn throws his arms out to his sides. “You’re reminiscing.”
With a sniffle, I say, “Good night, losers. Love you.”
“Love you,” they echo as I close their door.
Down the hall, I step into the room I’ve been staying in. But halfway to the bed, I turn on my heel. Then I head straight to Caleb’s. Tucked beneath the covers, I pull his pillow against my chest, letting his scent engulf me like a cozy blanket, and fall right to sleep.
CHAPTER 37
CALEB
Halle isn’t answering her phone.
Or emails.
Or texts.
And in my gut, I know something is wrong. She’s supposed to be working today. It would take a catastrophic event to keep her from doing her job, and even then, she’d let me know.
When yet another call goes to voicemail, I shove away from my desk. Until I hear from her, I won’t get anything done. I’m too fucking out ofmy mind with worry.
I stop by the senior partner’s office to let her know I’m leaving, then I speed all the way to Hawthorne Mills.
Before I get on the highway, I try Halle one more time.
And by some miracle, she answers.
“Hello?” she croaks, sounding so unlike herself.
“Are you okay?” I bark out, white-knuckling the steering wheel.
“I’m sick,” she mumbles. “I’ve thrown up so many times. I think it’s the flu.” She gasps, and then there’s muffled rustling on the other end of the phone. “Oh my God, I’m supposed to be working. I’ll get logged?—”
“You’ll do no such thing,” I grit out. If she’s sick, she should be in bed. “I’m on my way home.”
“Why? What happened?”
