Page 61 of Broken King

My brother smiles. “She’s Ava’s friend Eden’s cousin. Or something like that. All I know is she’s related to Eden in some way and was able to start immediately.”

His mention of Eden brings me back to last year when Marius, Kellen, and I were hanging out at that party Matthias and Ava had. “Eden, the one that Marius is always denying he has any interest in but is always checking out? That Eden?”

“The very one,” Matthias answers with a laugh.

That’s also interesting, although I’m not sure why. Perhaps someone should mention to my brother that the girl he was hitting on out at the pool is related to the one he likes. Then again, knowing Marius, he’d be fine with that.

“Where is he anyway? He blew in like the wind, and I haven’t seen him much since.”

“He went into the city to see Kellen and Salem. I think he’s coming back tomorrow? I’m not sure. You know him. He comes. He goes. He’s pretty much like that wind you mentioned.”

That’s the best description of Marius King I’ve ever heard.

“All right. I’m going to handle a few things. I’ll see you later, Matthias.”

As I begin to walk away, he says, “I’m glad to see you out more. I hope that means you’re feeling better.”

I look back and shrug. “A little. Some days more than others.”

With the thought that maybe Sabrina isn’t completely out of her mind with that woo-woo stuff she was talking about, I walk back outside and head for the big tree that Matthias mentioned. I know that rabbit he saw is long gone, but who knows? Maybe one of his descendants is around.

After ten minutes of waiting and not seeing any rabbits at the tree, I start walking. A half hour later, I’ve seen nothing close to a rabbit and I’m at the far edge of the estate. I look around for a few minutes, but nothing.

God, I really am an idiot for listening to Sabrina. It’s just that the thought of my mother sending me a message made me hopeful.

So much for that.

I walk back to the house and see her sitting in the kitchen with little Theo in his high chair. Plopping down in a seat across from her, I say, “I looked and saw nothing that could mean any message. I think you’re full of it.”

She doesn’t seem fazed by my irritation at her silly ideas, though. “Did you let your mother know you were listening?”

God, this person is tiring.

“First of all, you never mentioned anything about having to tell her I was listening. And second of all, how the hell am Isupposed to do that? Talk to the air?” I ask, not even trying a little to hide my disgust.

“Then how would she know you wanted to hear from her?” she asks in all seriousness.

Disgusted I’m even having this conversation, I look over at Theo as he once again makes a mess with his Cheerios. “If it was really her, she’d know without me having to say a word,” I grumble.

Theo smiles at me, so I take one of his little oat rings and pop it into my mouth. He’s got the idea. Don’t listen to the idiocy this woman serves up and instead simply focus on playing with your food.

I stand to leave, tired of talking to Sabrina, but as I walk out of the kitchen, she calls out, “You have to at least give her a head’s up. Tell her you want a sign!”

Without bothering to respond, I walk back outside. The truth is I’d love to get a message from my mother. I may think Sabrina is full of shit, but I wish she wasn’t. Even knowing my mother sees me would make me happy.

I walk back toward the big tree as I try to talk myself into actually talking to my mother. When I’m sure no one is around and no one can see me, I look up and say, “Mom, are you there? If you’re there, give me a sign. Send a rabbit like the one we saw that time.”

When I finish, I regret not saying something about letting me know she isn’t disappointed in me, so I add, “I just want to know you still think I’m capable of doing something special and not some loser.”

I look around in anticipation, but I see no rabbits. Maybe it takes time.

So I keep walking, enjoying the hot summer day. The temperature has to be close to ninety today. When all of us were small, we loved days like this. The hotter the better. My motherand Eleanor used to warn us not to wear ourselves out in the heat, but we never listened. They’d insist we take water breaks, but the last thing we wanted to do was come in the house when we were having fun.

I loved growing up here. There was space to run and play, and no matter what season it was, we enjoyed ourselves. With five of us, I always had someone to pester. I had a childhood I can look back on and know was good.

Except for the fact that my mother died. She never got to see me grow up. Never got to see me meet Kate. Never got to see me play ball.

Like every time I think about what I dreamed of doing, I glance down at where my missing right hand should be and wince. I wish she had been able to see me even once play baseball.

---