Page 48 of Like the Season
“But if you can’t, seriously, we’re good with you staying with us.”
“That’s too tempting.” She brushed at her eyes. “I need to be on my own at some point.”
“Doesn’t have to be right now. You’ve been through a lot. Decompress for a while first.”
“I still can’t process Rick tried to kill me.” She slowly shook her head. “Papa Tom’s attorney talked to the hospital this morning. He thinks they’ll be willing to cut me a check fairly fast in exchange for an NDA.”
“Take it.”
“I still need a doctor here.” She stroked her tummy. “For her and for me. I also need to follow up with a doctor about my ankle.”
He was going to reply when someone knocked on his door. “Okay,that’sweird.”
But when he walked over and looked through the viewfinder, he spotted his aunt standing there.
“Shit,” he whispered.
“What—”
“Shh!” He waved at Ella to stay quiet. At least they’d taken Boyd’s car, so unless she’d seen him walk in, she wouldn’t know he was there.
He walked over to Ella, where she sat in her wheelchair, and whispered in her ear. “It’s my aunt.”
“The one who keeps calling?”
“Yeah.”Shit. Well, there went his chance to grab more stuff from the apartment today. “We need to get out of here when she leaves.”
“Hey!” She grinned. “I’ll talk to her. She won’t know who I am.”
“How do you explain being here?”
“I’ll tell her I sublet it from you.”
He thought about it. Did hereallycare if his family knew he was living somewhere else? He didn’t want them knowing where, exactly, and had already planned to get a PO Box at Boyd’s suggestion to give them as a mailing address.
“You know what? Yeah. Go ahead.” He walked into the bedroom and closed the door nearly all the way, still able to hear but unseen from the entry.
He heard the creak of the wheelchair as she wheeled herself to the front door. Then he heard Ella open it. “Can I help you?”
The woman didn’t reply at first. “I’m looking for Caleb. I’m his aunt, Kelly. I’ve been trying to call him.”
“I’m sorry, but he’s not here.”
“Who areyou?”
Caleb had to bite back the laugh threatening to break free as Ella effortlessly channeled Boyd. “I’m none of your business, lady. That’s who I am.”
“Look, missy. I want to speak to Caleb!”
“Then I suggest you call him.”
“He won’t answer my calls.”
“Did you leave him a message?”
“That’s beside the point. Who the hell are you?”
“I’m a friend, and I’m subletting the apartment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I was getting ready to take a bath.”
