Page 33 of Hush 3: Hidden Family

I shake the thought off and turn to leave my room to go await Michael’s arrival. Annabella takes my hand and gives it a tight squeeze as we walk.

This estate is much larger than the house in Chicago. I like it much better. I have made it home since I’ve been here.

Uri and Annabella have helped me to make sure everything is just right. I love having Annabella here, but I know she will be leaving soon. She has to return to her studies and whatever it is she does for Uri and Michael.

I am not her assignment. I’m okay with that. I also feel safer here.

I think it’s because of the full-time military-trained staff who live with me. I don’t see everyone much, but I know they’re here. Uri says they are not here to make me feel like I’m in prison, but they are here to help me anytime I need.

“Don’t be so nervous. He has come all this way just for you.”

“I don’t want to disappoint him. I’m also afraid I will start my old tics because I’m nervous. I want Michael to see I have grown,” I explain.

“He will see it. We all do. I’m so proud of you, Sim. Don’t worry. You will be fine.”

“I hope you are right,” I murmur.

“Here, take this,” she says and hands me her gray hair tie.

“What is this for? My hair hasn’t grown long enough to pull it up yet. Does it look bad?” I ask as I start to panic.

“No, it’s not for your hair. Relax, I love your hair. It complements your face. The band is to be placed on your wrist. If you feel like you’re overwhelmed, try snapping it. It might help.”

“How do you always know how to help me?”

Annabella laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulders. She gives me a tight squeeze that helps settle me a bit. I lean my head against her and inhale her calming scent.

“I volunteered in the children’s ward of the hospital when I was eighteen. There was a little girl there with cancer. She was also on the spectrum.

“I learned a lot of things as we tried to help her. The pain and treatments made things extremely challenging for her,” she says.

“What was her prognosis? Did she beat the cancer?”

“That she did. She and her mother still write me letters.”

“This is good. I am happy to hear that. Are you sure you’re not going to practice medicine when you complete your studies? You will make such a good doctor. Your bedside manner will be so comforting to your patients.”

“I never entered medicine to become a doctor. Not in the conventional way. I always knew my brothers would need me. I wanted to be there if something like what happened to my father ever happened to one of them,” she says.

“Like you helped Adriano? He wouldn’t be here if not for you. Thank you again for saving him. If you and Uri?—”

“Sim. You have to stop blaming yourself for that. You saved both of your lives. No one can blame you for going into shock after what you did.

“I think you’re pretty badass. I know Michael is proud of you. And Adriano is grateful. I think you earned a friend for life with him.”

I go to answer her, but the front door opens as we get to the front of the house. Michael comes through the door with Uri. He drops his bags and steps forward to open his arms. I look to Annabella, thinking the gesture is for her.

She smiles and gestures with her head for me to go to him. I turn back to Michael and find him smiling at me. I gasp and run into his arms.

He wraps me in his embrace and holds me tight. I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him back. When he places a kiss on my forehead, I can’t help but melt into him.

“I am happy to see you,” I blurt out.

“It is good to see you too, little one. I want to hear all about your new school and what you have learned,” he says in his deep voice.

“Is it okay for you to come to my room? I would like to show you what I have done with it.”

I pull away to look up at his handsome face. He cups the side of my face and searches with his gaze. I drop my eyes to the floor.

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