Page 117 of Rumi: The Hawthornes

I understood why they were there, they cared, but it was pretty exhausting.

We didn’t leave Rumi’s house for a week, but eventually Rumi had to go back to work. He’d dragged his feet and come back to kiss my head and my cheek and say goodbye at least four times before he’d left the house.

“He’s gonna be late,” Bird muttered from his spot near the wall.

“At least he went today,” I said, glancing back at him. Mornings were always the sorest part of the day for me and I was trying to work up the courage to get out of bed. Most of my bruises had faded to gray and yellow giving me a jaundiced look, and my tooth felt more and more solid by the day, but my ribs still hurt like hell and the concussion was still giving me gnarly headaches.

“I’m going to be really behind at school,” Bird said, sitting up. His hair was sticking out at all angles, and I had to fight the urge to try and smooth it down. Every day Bird was getting a little bit back to his normal independent self, and I knew he’d be pissed if I fussed over him.

“They better not give you any shit,” I replied darkly.

“The principal already called Nana,” Bird said, climbing off the bed. I grimaced as he jostled me. “He said we’ll work somethin’ out.”

“There you go,” I said, nodding.

“Do you think we have any more donuts left?”

“Go check,” I replied, getting to my feet.That wasn’t so bad.“I’m going to check on Nana.”

“She’s outside,” Bird said as he left the room. “I heard her go out the second time Rumi came back.”

I went looking for Nana while Bird went looking for donuts. The thought made me smile. We were still reeling, and I was pretty sure that we wouldn’t get our feet under us anytime soon, but things were slowly starting to feel a little more normal.

“Hey,” I said, peeking out the front door. “What are you doing out here?”

“Thinking,” Nana said, looking up at me from her perch on the front steps. “That boy of yours kissed me on his way out the door.”

“I think he was having a little separation anxiety,” I joked.

“Lotta that going around,” she mused.

“Yeah.” I sat down beside her, looking out at Rumi’s quiet neighborhood. “I haven’t really wanted to leave either.”

“We need to figure out what we’re gonna do,” Nana said quietly.

“Did they clear the trailer so we can go back in?”

Nana shuddered. “Don’t think I can go back there, Bossanova.”

Crossing my arms on my knees, I rested my chin on them. “I don’t want to either.”

“We’ll get it sorted,” she said with a sigh. “Got a call this morning. Those detectives are going to stop by.”

“Why?” I asked suspiciously.

“Not sure.” She didn’t look at me, staring off into space.

“When are they coming?”

“Should be here any time.”

“Is that why you’re out here?”

“Didn’t want to worry Bird,” she said with a small smile. “Guess that ship has sailed.”

“Bring them inside,” I ordered quietly as I got to my feet again. “We deserve to hear what they have to say.”

“Alright, honey.”

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