Page 91 of Your Soul to Keep

I shrugged. “You’re not the one who should be apologizing.”

He studied me for a moment, then patted my butt to get me to move. “Come with me.”

We walked to the kitchen at the back of the house, and he pulled a stack of papers out from under the fruit bowl on the table and sat down.

Voice gruff, he asked, “You want to help me with these?”

“Of course.” Taking the chair beside him, I carefully slid the stack closer. It took a lot for Gabe to ask for help and I didn’t want to spook him. Still, my eyebrows shot up when I read the title and looked up at him. “A psych screening for Dylan? Isn’t it a bit early?”

He shrugged, looking miserable. “I don’t know, is it?”

I hummed. “Usually, they wait until they’re hitting grade one before they start initiating any of this,” I muttered. “Did they tell you why they’re concerned?”

“Non-compliant, won’t sit still, talks out of turn, doesn’t like to share,” he bit out their litany of complaints.

“Well, she’s three,” I scoffed, flipping through the pages. “At least she’s not biting.”

His face looked pained. “That was last year.”

I laughed and turned my attention to the questionnaires. “Yeah, we can do this. It won’t take long.”

Gabe snatched the papers from my hand, shoving them back under the fruit bowl as Zoe entered the kitchen.

“I’m heading out. Gabe, I’ll call you tomorrow to come see Dylan.” She turned to me, her gaze focussed over my right shoulder. “Nice meeting you, Shae.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I answered.

Her eyebrows flew up, disappointment flickering across her face. She met my eyes, “Excellent.”

She stalked down the hallway, and the front door slammed closed behind her.

Gabe sat staring at the floor, his knee bouncing. Suddenly, he slammed his palms down on the table. “This is bullshit. I’ll be right back.”

He flew out the door behind her.

Following slowly, I stood in the living room, a perfect view of them together on the driveway.

Gabe stood with his arms crossed, a heavy frown on his face.

Zoe waved him off with a laugh, but he grasped her elbow.

Looking down into her face, he shook his head and said something else that had her nodding and backing away with a much more subdued wave.

Gabe stomped up the front path and into the house, his face set in a scowl.

Spotting me, his eyes flew open. “You spying?”

I shrugged. “A bit.”

He laughed and threw his arm around me. “Come help me with these papers. They want me to meet with them tomorrow and bring the completed questionnaire.”

I hugged him back as we walked back to the kitchen. “I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

“It’s not necessary,” he stated mulishly.

“It’s not, but I still want to go with you. Let me, Gabe. Let me in.”

Those words snagged his attention. “Yeah?”

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