Page 55 of Storm

“I’d have waited until you were. Who’s the guy?” he asks. Then widens his eyes and focuses on his sister. “Is he the father of your baby?”

She hisses at him, but I decide to step forward. “I’m Kevin Cooper. I assume you’re her brother?”

Warily, he shakes my hand, then asks her another question in Spanish.

“Don’t be rude, Cristián.” Miriam shuts him down immediately, then turns to me. “Sorry, I—” Pausing, she takes a deep breath. “Why are you here, Kevin?”

Cristián is standing to our side, watching as we interact, and I want to tell him to get lost for a few minutes. Instead, I bite my tongue. “I was thinking about what the doctor said about food and decided to run to the store to make sure you had everything you need. I apologize for not calling ahead of time, but it felt important.”

She studies me, then asks, “You drove two hours to bring me groceries?” Cristián whistles in surprise, making Miriam turn to him. “Get the fuck out of here for a few minutes. Go into the other room or something.”

He listens, but it’s obvious he’s not thrilled about being kicked out.

“We don’t have to go over why I’m here right now. Would you let me help you for a bit, then I’ll get out of your hair.”

Looking away, I can tell the moment she resigns herself. “I’ve no idea what to say right now. Exhaustion is making me cranky and I just want to get some sleep. I need to make up a bed for him, but that’s all that needs doing tonight.”

“Let me help you,” I plead.

Nodding jerkily, she turns away, then heads to her linen closet, pulling out bedsheets and a comforter. I take them from her and head toward the spare room Cristián is hiding away in.Shoving them in his hands, I say, “Make up your bed. She needs some sleep.”

He opens his mouth to argue or question me, but I’m not sure which because I turn away and focus on her. “Let me get you settled and I’ll leave. Did you eat tonight?”

With a huff, she glares at me like I’m an idiot. “Yes. You saw me throw it all up.”

“Noted. I’m going to get you something to drink and some crackers. I was hoping to talk with you a bit more tonight, but I’ll hold off since your brother is here.”

“Kevin,” she calls out as I walk away to get the food. I pause and turn to her. “You didn’t need to come out here for this.”

“I know, but I wanted to.”

I leave her standing in the living room and listen as she shuffles off to her room. Setting the glass of water and crackers on her side table, I sit on the edge of her bed once she crawls under her covers.

“Does this happen a lot?” I ask, noting her sunken eyes and tired features. I reach out to brush a strand of hair from her face and am shocked when she lets me.

Settling into her bed, she curls an arm under her head to face me. “Sometimes. I never know whenmorningsickness will creep up. But it’s been happening less the further along I get. It’s been a few days since I’ve gotten sick like that.”

“I know I said I’ll go, but if you want me to stay, I will.”

She glances at the clock on her side table, noting the time. “It’s late.”

“It is.”

“You saw where I got the sheets?” She blinks slowly, already fading.

I smile gently, brushing her hair again, just to have an excuse to touch her. “I did.”

Her speech is slowing, but she manages to get out, “You can make up the couch, if you’d like.”

Then she falls asleep. I touch her again, using just my index finger to move every piece of hair from her face. Leaning forward, I press my lips to her forehead and whisper. “See you in the morning, Miriam.”

Leaving her to sleep, I find another set of sheets and blanket, then make up the couch, all while ignoring her brother in the spare room as he moves around, probably doing the same as me. She and I can talk in the morning.

CHAPTER 26

MIRIAM

“He was moving like he had concrete blocks stuck to his feet. The dude normally runs a 4.2 second dash and I doubt he could have done more than 5.5 Thursday night.”

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