Page 38 of Sawyer
“I’m sure it will too.We’ve got to have you all ready for the season.Kevin, are you excited to be on the team this year?”Hudson’s bedside manner is admirable, and Annabelle's face lights up in pride as she watches Kevin chat with Hudson about the upcoming baseball game this weekend.
“Buzz, buzz, buzz…” Noah’s hands smooth over my stubble, and I look back at him.
“You think I’m a bee?Or are you a bee, hmm?”
Noah smiles at me, breaking down a little more of my city armor.He’s a cute kid.
“Well, outside is all fine, but you’ll need a new lock.The other one was broken,” Tanner says as he and Connor come back inside and both pause mid-stride when they see me holding Noah.
“Ahhhhhh.Are you feeling alright?”Connor’s smirk rises, looking between me and Noah, who’s now squishing my nose and flapping my tie, continuing his buzzing sounds, totally oblivious to anyone else around him.If this had happened months ago, I would be aghast.This is a thousand-dollar tie and Noah is playing with it like it’s his new toy.And as he grabs it and pulls it to his face, using it like a comfort blanket, I find myself pulling it from my neck and giving it to him.His small hand grabs it, then he rests his head on my shoulder with the tie now firmly in his grasp.
“Do.Not.Say.A thing,” I grit out to the guys, who both look at me with equal parts confusion and understanding.
“Okay, a few butterfly strips will hopefully do the job.But I prefer to stitch, just to make sure…” Hudson says.
“No.I’m fine, really.Just a small head bump,” Annabelle says, and Hudson sighs, clearly preferring the other option.
“Ma, Ma, Ma!”Noah reaches for her now that Hudson is finished and packing up, so I put Noah down and let him run to her.I can’t help the small smile on my lips when he climbs up onto her lap carefully before snuggling into her, my tie still in his grip.
“I’m sorry to drag you all out here.Thanks for coming.I appreciate it.”She puts Noah on the chair and stands.I’m sure I'm not the only one who thinks she looks pale.
“Kevin, keep your mom hydrated with some water and make sure she gets plenty of rest.Come and see me tomorrow if the butterfly strips don’t hold, and we’ll put a few little stitches in it just to keep it closed.But I think you’ll be all fine after a good night's sleep.”Hudson’s words are soothing but don’t appease me at all.
“Thanks, Hudson.”Annabelle’s smile is small, her exhaustion obvious.
“You tell us if you need anything,” Tanner says to her as he scruffs Kevin's hair.
“Sure,” Annabelle says, lying again as she walks the four of us to her door.
I look at Tanner.“Think you can get a ride home with Hudson?I might hang around for a bit.”
He nods.“Probably a good idea.”The look he gives me is not one that fills me with confidence.
As the other three men start walking out, I remain, looking around the room.
“You staying?”Kevin comes to stand by my side.I look down at him, brow pinched.
“Thinking about it.”
“I’d like that,” he says quietly, and I see it then.A little fear in his eyes.
“Thanks for calling me.”
“She didn’t want me to.But I was worried.”
I nod, gripping his shoulder lightly.“You did the right thing.Call me anytime.”
“Boys, I think that’s enough activity for one night.”Annabelle turns from the door, and I watch as both boys go to her and hug her tight, then Kevin takes Noah’s hand and walks him down the hall, to where I assume their bedrooms are.
Once they’re gone, the two of us stand, looking at each other.
“You want to tell me what really happened tonight?”I feel tension in my shoulders as she gives me that fake smile that she offered me when we first met.
“I just tripped.”She shakes her head like it’s no big deal as she starts acting busy, packing up things around the house that don’t need to be touched.
“Annabelle, I think you and I both know that’s not what happened.”I step toward her, and she stops what she’s doing and looks at me.
Taking a big breath, she blows it out.“Fine.I’m going crazy.I hear things, see things.Things that don’t make sense.I think I’ve actually lost my mind.”
