He set a hand on Nana’s shoulder. “Let’s save this conversation for another time.”
Nana’s eyes didn’t leave Jim’s, but she did nod in agreement.
Emmitt bent to look in the bag that Liam still held with uncertainty. “Do you think we should light some of these tonight?”
Liam’s eyes darted to me, then between Jim and Nana. I didn’t blame him. It felt like the wrong answer could set off a landmine. Even Aden looked at the group in confusion, his bag hanging loosely from his chubby fingers.
“I think we should go inside,” I said softly, holding my hands out. Liam dropped his bag, and Aden immediately did the same. They ran to me, wrapping their little hands in mine.
The three other adults didn’t move as I led the boys away. I felt Emmitt’s eyes on me and risked a backward glance. Our eyes met, his concerned and sad gaze followed my progress. I quickly looked away.
Both boys remained quiet as we walked to the house, as did the group behind us. I wondered what lecture waited for Jim.
We spent the rest of the evening in Emmitt’s apartment. I discovered paper in one of the kitchen drawers and played tic-tac-toe with them. When we grew bored with that, I found a movie we could all watch while lounging on the lumpy couch. We remained quiet just like we used to do when David grew angry. If we were quiet, he eventually calmed down; and we avoided being locked back in our rooms.
Dinnertime approached, and the annoying ache officially upgraded to a headache. Since coming inside, I hadn’t heard anything from below. Back home, a quiet house after Richard returned home from work meant trouble. Neither boy mentioned anything about dinner so I ignored it, too.
Eventually Aden started to yawn, and I suggested we all get ready for bed. Thanks to Nana, we changed into pajamas and snuggled in for the night.
Despite the pain in my head, I slept hard.
Chapter 5
“But I’m hungry...”
The faint whisper penetrated my foggy mind. Pain throbbed in my skull, steady and insistent. I wanted to drift to sleep again, but I heard Liam’s solemn answer.
“Mimi’s head hurts.”
At five, Liam knew the power of my pain. In the past, Blake had used it to gain my obedience. It worked just as effectively as threatening the boys.
“It’s okay, buddy,” I mumbled lifting my head. I pretended it didn’t feel like it would fall off. “I’m hungry, too.” I blinked, and it took a moment to focus.
They stood beside the bed already dressed in swim trunks. I wondered if we would still go to the lake after yesterday’s discord.
I pulled back the covers and stumbled from the bed. Aden backed up, giving me space, and held up my swimsuit. I smiled shakily and took it from him, unable to disappoint him.
“I’ll change after we eat, okay?” He nodded and led the way to the kitchen. When he turned the corner, I tossed the suit over my shoulder, not caring where it landed as long as he didn’t notice.
In the kitchen, I opened cupboards only to stare at their empty cavities. The refrigerator equally disappointed me. I looked at the boys. We would need to beg from our neighbors again. I hoped that Nana and Jim had worked out their differences yesterday and there wouldn’t be any lingering tension.
Forgetting about personal hygiene, I shuffled to the door. The boys followed. I heard Aden’s stomach growl.
“We’ll see if Emmitt has some food. ‘K?” He had been the coolheaded one of the bunch yesterday.
The stairs challenged me, and I needed to grip the railing to keep my balance. I rolled my shoulders, subconsciously trying to ease the pain. Liam moved beside me and held my other hand. I tried smiling again and gave his hand a light squeeze.
Before the end of the day, I would be babbling and crying. I needed to get rid of the information.
Emmitt stood at the bottom of the steps, waiting for us. He tilted his head slightly as he monitored our slow progress. The concern from yesterday crept back into his eyes.
When we reached the bottom, he stepped forward and gently touched my forehead. He pulled his hand back before I could lean into the comfort of it. His light touch, though brief, lingered on my skin.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just a headache,” I said clutching the railing.
Liam stayed beside me, but Aden stepped forward, craning his neck to meet Emmitt’s eyes.
“I’m hungry,” he said with quiet uncertainty.
Emmitt smiled down at him. “Of course you are. You skipped your supper. Would you like some pancakes?”
Aden nodded enthusiastically and reached up to hold Emmitt’s hand. I looked at their joined hands, and my heart ached for Aden. He obviously wanted a man in his life who could care about him. I empathized.
“Would you like some aspirin or something?” Emmitt asked as Aden tugged him toward Jim’s apartment.
I shook my head—very gently—and followed them, still holding Liam’s hand. Jim stood at the stove, cooking. When he glanced back at us, he caught my eye and winked. Had my head not hurt, I would have smiled. Whatever happened after we left yesterday hadn’t changed Jim’s mood.
The smell of the grilling pancakes turned my stomach, but I sat with the boys at Jim’s kitchen island. Emmitt nudged Jim to the side while talking to the boys.
“If you add a big scoop of batter in the middle,” he turned slightly to show Liam, “and add two smaller scoops to the top on each side, do you see what we can make?” Liam shook his head, and Emmitt’s lips twitched in a smile. “No? Well, we’ll see if you can guess it when we’re done.”
We all watched Emmitt reach into the refrigerator and pull out the can of whipped cream. He set it on the counter in front of Liam then turned to flip the pancake. He let it in the pan for another minute before he put it on a plate.
“Ready, Liam?”
Liam nodded, and Emmitt uncapped the can. Within seconds of applying the cream, Liam began giggling.
“Know what this is, yet?” Emmitt asked tilting his head to look at his creation.
Aden laughed with Liam. For a split second, it’d looked like a famous mouse, but then the heat of the pancake had melted the cream so it looked more like a bear with a grimace.
“Well, that didn’t work so well,” Emmitt said, sliding the plate toward Liam. “Try a bite and let me know if it tastes better than it looks. I’ll start another one for your brother and sister.”
I struggled to swallow down the bile that rose at the thought of eating. Sliding back, I nudged Aden off my lap and onto the stool then quietly excused myself.
I escaped outside into the fresh air. On the porch, I leaned against the column near the stairs and looked out at the yard. A warm, early morning breeze swept away the smell of cooking food, easing my stomach but not my head. My eyes watered with the increasing pain.
Inside, a phone rang. The sound chipped at my skull. Thankfully, Nana answered on the second ring.
Emmitt came out to stand next to me. “Liam said your head really hurts. Are you sure I can’t get you something?”
Liam didn’t understand the cause, only the level of pain I endured.
“No, I’m fine.” I didn’t move.
I could hear Nana’s conversation. “Sam, I don’t know any better than you do. I thought all you did was research the trends, read financial reports, and watch for promising growth opportunities. When I read the paper, I look at the funnies. Now that I can help you with...”
My ears perked up.
Emmitt moved down to the step in front of me, bringing him closer to eye level as he faced me. “If not aspirin maybe Nana has something that could help.”