Page 45 of Hit the Ground
“How in the world did you miss that?” she asked, not hiding her incredulousness.
I lifted a shoulder. “Pheobe told me I have a habit of not seeing what’s in front of me. I think she might be right.” I rubbed at the tension in the center of my forehead. “I can’t help thinking she wouldn’t have been in this position if I’d gone out with her. It wouldn’t have been a hardship. We would have had a good time, and she—”
“Cay…” My mom moved next to me, leaning her head on my bicep. “I’ll tell you what I said to Alice: do not take this on. What that man did has nothing to do with you. You can bring up a million what-ifs, but who does that help? Not Alice, and not you.” She gave my arm a sharp poke. “That’s for not knowing Alice is our librarian. Your sister’s right. You need to open your eyes more often. There’s no telling what you’re missing.”
“You’re not going to get after me for not going out with her?”
She straightened and tipped her head to meet my eyes. “I’m not. Today’s not really the day to get into it. Though…I do question your entire premise.”
“What do you mean?”
“Not getting into it, honey.” Then she gave me one of her bone-crushing hugs. “I love you. Take care of Alice. Call me or Dad if you need anything.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
She waved on her way down the steps. “I know you do.”
Alice came out of her room a few hours later. I’d spent the time doing chores I’d been putting off around the house—anything that could be completed quietly—trying like hell not to replay her screams. It was difficult, but knowing she was all right under my roof drowned some of it out.
She looked better after resting. Her hair was still a little wild, and her eyes were puffy, but there was color back in her cheeks, and the small smile she offered was a relief to see.
“Hey,” she said, her voice raspy from sleep.
“Hey yourself. Hungry?”
“Yeah. I think I am. Can I help you cook?”
“Normally, if you’re here, you help. But I’ll make an exception this time.” I pointed toward a stool at the island. “Sit down. Keep me company.”
She waved her casted hand. “Is it because of this?”
I grinned at her. “You guessed it. The girl with the cast gets to take it easy.”
I was no chef, but I’d been a single dad long enough I’d mastered a few meals. I whipped up some pasta, garlicbread, and roasted brussels sprouts. We sat at the kitchen table together, eating in near silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, though. Alice’s company was mellow and easy.
After dinner, she helped me clear the table despite my protests. I ordered her to have a seat while I cleaned up the kitchen. She didn’t give me much trouble, sitting at the island again, looking around my place with curiosity. I watched her while I dried my hands on a towel, trying to figure out if she needed anything from me.
Maybe more of this. A quiet night, with nothing to do, no questions to answer. Moreeasy.
“Do you want to read with me?” I asked.
Her head popped up, her eyes wide. “Read with you?”
I nodded to her phone. “Do you have books on there? I’d offer to lend you one of mine, but I don’t think you’d be interested in one of Jesse’s comics or robot manuals. His biographies, on the other hand…” I raised a brow.
She laughed. “I’m not much of a nonfiction reader, no matter how hard Jesse tries to convince me. But yes, I do have books on my phone.” She chewed on her bottom lip for a beat. “The doctors told me to give my brain a break. Sadly, that includes reading.”
I should’ve known that. A woman with a fresh concussion needed to take it easy. But just because she couldn’t read didn’t mean…
“How about I read to you?”
Her spine straightened as she perked at the idea. “Really? I’d love that, but you don’t have to.”
“I offered.” I gestured toward the living room. “Come on. Let’s sit in here.”
Alice took one corner of the couch, and I took the other, tossing her a throw blanket. She spread it over her lap, and itsatisfied me in a deep, surprising way to see how comfortable she was here, with me, after what she’d been through.
I cracked open the hardback I’d checked out from the library. “Do you want me to start from the beginning?”
