Page 59 of When We Were Young
His attention shifted to Aiden. The boy was an athlete, no doubt. If Aiden was fifteen, then Noah felt sorry for the other guys, the ones who had to defend him on the football or soccer field. Whatever sport he played.
Noah poured a cup of strong coffee. Straight black. A memory hit him and he felt a surge of hope. Maybe his mind was clearing up. “It’s Saturday. How about pancakes?”
“Too many carbs.” Olivia didn’t bother to look up. Just kept her eyes glued to the phone.
“Not that many.” Noah still worked to keep his voice upbeat. “Besides, a few carbs never hurt anyone. Not on a Saturday morning.”
Aiden shot Olivia a harsh look. “Why do you care? You’ll just throw them up an hour from now.”
Noah’s breathing came faster. What was Aiden saying? Olivia threw up her food? On purpose? There was a name for that condition. What was it? The harder he thought, the more his head pounded. This couldn’t be happening.
“That’s not funny.” Noah returned to the living room and gave Aiden’s shoulder a light push. “Don’t talk about your sister that way.”
Aiden scowled at him. “What areyousaying?” His laugh was angry. “You already know. You’re the one who wanted her checked into some inpatient place.”
How was Noah supposed to answer that? He had lost another five years of memories. Of course he didn’t remember about Olivia’s problem or his own response. But he could feel his heart breaking. His baby girl had an eating disorder. How did that happen? He didn’t dare say anything or they’d know the truth.
Dad was losing his mind.
He decided to ignore their rude attitudes and mean glances. Pancakes were on the menu. And like the last time he could remember them being here, he scrambled a few eggs for each of them.
While the pancakes were cooking, Noah looked for syrup. There wasn’t any. Fine, he would make his own. Butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. That’s all he needed. He pulled up a quick recipe on his phone, and when breakfast was ready he set the table and put the dishes of food in the middle.
“Come eat.” Again Noah’s tone was kind. Both kids were on their phones now, and neither one responded. As if they couldn’t hear him at all. He raised his voice some. “I said, come eat.”
This time Aiden and Olivia looked up. His tone must’ve told them he meant business, because they both shuffled to the table, still looking at their phones. Noah sat across from them. They started eating without praying, without saying a single thank-you or even pretending to be interested in Noah.
“I have a question.” He looked from Aiden to Olivia. “What makes you think you can be on your phones all the time? When I’m sitting right here, trying to talk to you?”
Aiden blinked a few times. “Must be a bad brain day, huh, Dad?” He held up his phone. “You gave them to us. So we’d have something to do when you were busy. Whatever you do.”
Noah made a note to check his social media accounts later. That would give him some idea of what he’d been doing. Either way, that last part was pure dagger. His headache was getting worse. What exactlydidhe do with his time these days? Noah didn’t have a clue. He turned to his daughter. “So, Olivia...” Noah tried to think of more neutral questions. She was still stuck on her phone, still acting like she couldn’t hear him. He raised his voice. “Olivia, could you put your phone down, please? I’m trying to talk to you.”
“I’m talking to my boyfriend.” She sneered at him. “We’re in a fight, okay?”
“You’re always in a fight.” Aiden rolled his eyes and put his phone down next to his plate. Then he helped himself to four pancakes. “He’s the worst kid in middle school, and you’re dating him.”
Noah felt like he was having an out-of-body experience. Not just now but every time he woke up. Okay, so he needed medical help. His brain was falling apart. But why had Emily allowed their kids to act like this? He needed to find out more about Aiden and Olivia, why they were rude and how come they didn’t pray before eating. Why his thirteen-year-old daughter was dating some bad boy.
But first he had to know something more important than any of that.
“Where’s your mother?” He aimed the question at Aiden. His son was being more responsive than Olivia. “She’s going to miss pancakes.”
This time Olivia set down her phone and both kids stared straight at him. Olivia spoke first. “You really think Mom would join us for pancakes? Here? Withyou?” She shook her head, clearly disgusted with him. “Mom has her own Prince Charming now. They’re always together.”
“Yeah.” Aiden twisted up his face. “You’re starting to worry me, Dad.”
Noah’s heart skidded into a crazy fast rhythm. Emily was... she was... He couldn’t finish the thought.No, God, don’t let it be true.Ice ran through Noah’s veins and he stared at his plate. For a long time Noah kept his questions to himself. When breakfast was finished, he showered and shaved. Then he put a bag of sandwiches together, found a blanket, a Frisbee and a football and walked over to the kids.
They were both in their chairs in the living room, back on their phones. “Turn off your phones.” Noah used a louder voice this time. He was tired of being ignored. “Do it now.”
“Why?” Aiden lowered his phone and glared at Noah. “We can do what we want. That’s always how it is at your house.”
At your house. The words terrified Noah, but he couldn’t let that show. “We’re going to the park. Now.”
“The park?” Olivia twisted her mouth, a scowl fixed on her forehead. Based on Olivia’s look Noah might as well have said they were going to pick through the local dump heap.
“For a picnic.” Noah took a step closer. His daughter looked so much like Emily. But this morning she had none of Emily’s kindness. Noah aimed his words right at her. “And you’re going with us. Because I said so.”
