Page 58 of Inherited Light
He hid a grin without taking his eyes from mine. “I told her it wouldn’t work, but you know Cinn.”
“Yeah, I know Cinn,” I sighed, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. “It’s usually the other way around. I’m usually the one worried about her.”
He shrugged. “She’s feeling better since she started her medication again and the doctor is weaning her off the prednisone. While she’s still being careful, she can direct longer as she regulates to the medications. She’s not eating much, but her appetite will return as the medication heals her stomach. In the meantime, she can do half a tube feed without pain, which is a start. The therapist she’s been seeing has been a godsend. We can talk now without Cinn dissolving into tears.”
I shook one foot as it crossed over my knee. “I’m happy to hear she’s doing better. She needs the music to help deal with the pain and anger she feels sometimes. I can remember waking up to the piano and falling asleep to the saxophone most nights. She craves whatever it does for her soul.”
"I suppose Catalina is the same way. She uses her art to escape her real life,” he said aiming for cagey, but he’s too easy to see through.
I leaned forward and wiped some sawdust from my dungarees. "Maybe, though I’m not sure she’s trying to escape her life. I guess her art gallery does the same thing Cinn’s band does. It's a natural progression."
He pursed his lips and wiggled them around a few times. “Right, well, okay then. Good talk.”
I choked back a laugh. “You’re terrible at this, Foster. Why didn’t my sister come to me and ask her own questions?”
He rolled his eyes to the top of his head. “I told her this wasn’t going to work.”
This time I let the laugh escape. “Cinn forgets I already know what you’re feeling when you show up at the door. Since we have all the nonsense out of the way, what does she actually want to know?”
“Honestly?” he asked and I nodded. “I don’t know. How’s that for frankness?”
“I appreciate the honesty, Foster, but why did she send you if she doesn’t know?”
“I think she’s worried about you, but isn’t sure why. The job here is wrapping up,” he explained.
“I have a few small jobs lined up for the next few weeks, but I know I need to make a decision about the business. With the investigation and having to stay with Cat, I’ve put it on the backburner.”
“She’s also worried about that.”
“The business or me staying with Cat?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“The staying with Cat part. She thinks you’re going to end up hurt.”
“Well, she can think whatever she wants, but I’m not five anymore.”
He picked Poopsie up and brushed some sawdust from her fur. “Which I also told her, but you’re her little brother and being with someone like Cat is a difficult row to hoe.”
I stood before I realized I had and shook with anger. “A difficult row to hoe? Did you just say that to me about the woman I love?”
His eyebrows went up, but he didn’t say anything. I laced my hands through my hair, pacing the floor in anger. “Is it so hard to believe I could fall in love with her? She’s beautiful, talented, and so damn electric every time I touch her. All of you need to stop with the wheelchair crap and start accepting that Cat’s here to stay.”
He frowned. “Wheelchair crap? I don’t know what you mean.”
I whirled around and held my hands out. “It seems the fact she’s in a wheelchair makes everyone lose their mind. She can’t walk, whoopee. She uses a wheelchair, whoopee. I can’t draw a stick figure and she can draw intricate images with a pencil while waiting for lunch to finish. I’m not sure why it’s any different than you falling in love with my sister. She has her own issues and while they may not be something you can see on the outside, she’s still medically fragile.”
“I do recall one conversation we had where you threatened to make my life a living hell if I hurt your sister.”
I threw my arms out. “What’s your point? I already knew you loved her, I could feel it every time you entered a room where she was. I’m her brother and I’m always going to have her best interests at heart.”
He tucked Poopsie under his arm and patted my back on the way by. “Forget we ever had this conversation. The salon is fantastic and I can’t wait to get the keys from you in a few days.” He strode to the door and yanked it open, disappearing into the afternoon sun.
I kicked the toolbox he had been sitting on with my boot. It tinged from my steel toe colliding with it, but it didn’t budge. What’s happening here? I asked myself. Why do I feel like I’m the only sane one in a world of crazy people? I sat on the chair and held my head in my hands. So many things have happened in such a short time, I struggled to find slots to put everyone else’s feelings, so I could sort my own.
There was a cold nose on my hand and I opened an eye to see Brutus standing in front of me. Cinn followed him through the door.
I held up my hand. “I can’t do this, Cinn. I’m sorry, but I’m overwhelmed right now.”
She knelt and put her arms around me, resting her head near mine. “I should have come and asked my own questions, but I was afraid.”
