Page 100 of Quiet
Briarhmphedand pulled Isa a little closer, but let it go.
“I wasn’t able to read anything from either of them. But I think you’re right, Alice. There’s definitely something different about those two.” His curiosity had kicked into overdrive now, but he was going to have to live with it. There was no way he was ever going to trythatagain.
Briar bent down and spoke softly into Isa’s ear. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Alice, I think he’s trying to take our pumpkin away from us.”
“I’m not a pumpkin,” Isa said for the thousandth time. Maybe he should give up and accept that he was going to be called a gourd for the rest of his life.
“Fine. Sugar Pumpkin then,” Will said airily.
No. He would fight it until his last breath.
“Will, get our climbing gear,” Alice announced. “If Briar is taking our Sugar Pumpkin—”
“I am not a pumpkin!”
“Then we’re taking his brother.” She finished without missing a beat.
“Excellent compromise, my love. Feel free to drag Sugar Pumpkin to the nearest closet and have your way with him, big boy.”
Briar looked like he was seriously considering the offer, and Isa nudged him in the ribs. The man was starting to develop a thing for semipublic sex that Isa refused to encourage.
I mean, not that it isn’t fun.Isa’s mind began to supply him with a few choice moments from the time Briar railed him backstage while Will had watched.
Isa shook his head. He wasn’t encouraging his dirty friend either! Besides, there was something else Briar wanted, and it felt important.
“What’s up?”
Briar pulled on his arm, leading Isa to the side porch where he found Cedar and a short, oddly familiar, older man.
“Hi.” Isa looked to Briar but got nothing. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
The not-quite-a-stranger gazed at Isa like he was a starving man. He looked like he was at a complete loss for words.
Cedar stepped in with a kind smile. “Briar was concerned about you after you lost your birth family. He asked me to do some digging to see if I could find your—”
“Uncle.” Isa breathed. “You’re my uncle Cal, aren’t you?”
“Isa.” Tears welled in the man’s eyes, and he stepped forward before being blocked by Briar.
“Is this okay?” Briar gazed at Isa anxiously. He wanted to know if he’d done the right thing or if Isa wanted him to send his uncle away.
“It’s more than okay!” Isa stepped around Briar. “I thought I’d never see you again.” Isa grabbed his uncle’s hands, then stopped, and dropped his eyes to the ground awkwardly. What was he supposed to say to the uncle he’d stood by and allowed to be injured without saying a word?
“I’m sorry!” They both said at the same time.
Isa’s eyes shot back up to meet his uncle’s tear-filled gaze.
“W-what on earth are you sorry about?”
“Isa, I wasn’t able to take you away from that hellish life. I left you there, knowing what it was like growing up in that environment.”
“Are you kidding me? Thomas would have killed you if you’d ever set foot in that house again. I don’t blame you even a little!”
Cal laughed softly. “You’re even kinder than I remember. If I were you, I don’t know if I’d be so ready to forgive. You have nothing to apologize for, Isa. You were practically a baby.”
“But I didn’t say anything. I just stood there and watched like a coward.”
