Page 31 of Rescued By My Best Friend's Brother

“Okay. I’ll see you tonight.”

I hang the phone up quickly, the awkwardness making me uneasy. I glance at my watch again. I need to leave if I want to make it in time. I only have a small window of opportunity to see Caty.

Chapter Eighteen

Jasper

Itisalongdrive, but I have to make it. Caty knows her family best. Maybe she can confirm if the writing belongs to one of her brothers. I would just call her but I need her to see it. I need her to look at the writing in person and let me know what she thinks. I’d already taken a picture of the contents of the box and made a copy of the note, knowing I may need it just in case, so all I have to do now is show it to her and see what she thinks.

I enter the double doors and head to where I know she is staying.

I tap on the door. She isn’t expecting me. Maybe I should have called first. I hear a shuffle on the other side of the door and it partially opens. I see her peek through the small space between the door and the door jam.

“Caty, It’s me, Jasper.” I keep my voice calm so as not to upset her.

The door slowly creaks open and she abandons the door to scurry back to where she was putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

I step inside, closing the door behind me and make my way to where she is sitting. She is looking a lot better.

“How are you doing Caty?” I ask as I sit down across from her. It appears she has been working on this puzzle for quite some time. All the edges are done, and large bits and pieces of the center has started taking shape. I can tell that it will be a unicorn once it is finished. The horn and top of the horse head is complete and a hoof.

She keeps picking up pieces and trying them in various places, putting it back down and picking up another piece to try in a totally different place. She continues this pattern for felt like eternity before she finally answered. “I’m fine.”

“Lily has her first slumber party tonight. It’s the first time I have let her stay away from the house with someone other than me or you since she was born.” I see a smile sneak across her face but she keeps concentrating on her pieces.

“Caty, I am here to ask you something.” She looks up at me curiously. “Have you spoken to your family at all?” She immediately looks back down at her puzzle trying the piece in different locations. I gently place my hand over hers to settle her and she looks at me with pain stricken eyes as she slowly nods. “No, I haven’t.”

“Do you think you would recognize either of your brothers handwriting if you saw it?” I ask as I pull the folded-up copy of the handwritten note that was with the doll. She doesn’t answer me but shrugs as if saying she doesn’t know.

“Does this look like something one of your brothers would write?” I push the paper in front of her covering the puzzle pieces she is working with. She studies it for a few moments and shrugs again. I am unsure if she is shrugging because she doesn’t recognize it or because she doesn’t know. I had hope that she could help answer this for me.

“Caty, do you recognize the writing?” I ask her specifically “Yes or no?” She looks at the paper again for a long while. Then suddenly she says “No.” and moves the paper from in front of her so she can continue what she is working on.

I take the paper and put in back in my pocket. She says she doesn’t recognize it but maybe she just doesn’t remember. This doesn’t mean it isn’t them. I will just have to wait and hope they are able to pull fingerprints. It’s the only hope I have.

I sit a short while longer in Caty’s presence. Just watching her test different pieces of the puzzle. She seems to have so much patience. Much more patience than when we were together. She has come so far over the past three years but she still has a little ways to go. I want her to know Lily, I want her to see all the wonderful things she does and says. To see how incredibly smart she is. Maybe she will one day, one day soon, but for now it has to be this way.

After a few more moments of silence, I touch her hand and she looks up at me. Her eyes are full of emptiness and hope all rolled into one. I wish things could have been different for her. Everyone is only ever one decision away from ruining their life. Now, she just must work twice as hard to put it back together the best she can.

“If they find you, if they call you, or if you reach out to them please let me know. I need to find out if this is them sending these threats, so I know how serious to take them for Lily’s sake.” I give her hand a slight squeeze and at the mention of Lily’s name she places her other hand over mine as if reassuring me that if she can help, she will. I know I have a long ride back home ahead me and I need to get home to Lily and Elena and I need to figure out what this is between us.

“I need to head back now.” I stand to my feet. Caty doesn’t move. She just goes back to piecing her puzzle together. “I will let myself out. As always Caty, if you need anything please call me.” I know she hears me. I know she is listening. But she still doesn’t look away.

I make my way out of her door. As I close the door behind me I lean my back against it. I tilt my head back until it reaches the door as I whisper to myself,Caty, why couldn’t you have been more help?I rub my eyes and face with both hands as I prepare myself for the ride home. I need to stop and get a coffee on the way. It has been a long day.

Chapter Nineteen

Elena

Inthedistance,Ihear the faint shut of a door. My eyelids feel heavy, making it difficult to open them. The images of my brief dream linger momentarily. It is the picture of Jasper between my legs, smirking up at me. It's been a long time since anyone has pleased me and me alone without going after anything in return. To say Jasper knows his way around is an understatement. His tongue erased any memory of anyone who came before him.

Soft creaking pushes away the grogginess. I open my eyes, immediately greeted by a sea of pastels. I sit up in the chair beside Lily’s bed, the book I had been reading still in my hands. I set it on the nightstand and notice a shadow in the doorway. My heart stops as I hold back a scream. I grimace, as the soft light on Lily’s nightstand reveals Jasper's sharp features. He already has his glasses on and looks tired.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” he whispers.

I stand up, shaking my head. “No. It’s ok” I yawn, trying to stretch away my tiredness. “I need to get to bed too.”

“Let me walk you out.”

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