Page 44 of Bones

I hope everything’s okay.

Me:

I figured you’d be asleep.

Elsie:

I’m a little restless tonight.

Me:

Come down to my room.

Elsie:

That’s okay. I’ll be fine.

Me:

Elsie

Elsie:

Wyatt

I’d always loved that she’d never called me by my road name. It was either Wyatt or nothing. Chuckling under my breath, I sent her one final message.

Me:

My room.

Now.

I returned my phone to the bedside table, and it wasn’t long before my door crept open, and light flooded into the dark room. Elsie stepped into the room, then closed the door behind her. “Hey.”

“Hey.” I lifted the covers and that’s all it took for her to crawl in next to me. I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close, and within a breath, my entire body started to relax. “That’s better.”

“Yes, it is.”

“You have a long day, too?”

“You could say that.”

“Something happen?”

“No, I just got in my head a little, and once the wheels get to turning, it’s hard to shut them off.”

“So, you had something on your mind.”

She nodded, then sighed. “Today would’ve been Brantley’s twenty-first birthday.”

“Oh, damn. I had no idea.”

“I know you didn’t. It’s fine.” Her voice trembled as she told me, “I went out to the cemetery for a while. I thought it would make me feel closer to him or whatever, but it only made me miss him more. My parents, too. I know it’s been a long time and I should be over it by now... but I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing them.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could do something to make it better.”

“You already have.” She glanced up at me with a half-smile. “You’ve always been there when I needed you most.”

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