“You weren’t watching her,” she bit out. “I know she’s not a baby, but she’s still only thirteen. How long did you leave her alone? What the hell, Eli?”
That shut him up. She didn’t raise her voice. Every word was edged with glass.
“I—” he attempted to answer before Paige cut him off.
“She didn’t feel welcome in your house, Eli. That’s a problem.”
“I didn’t know she was gone,” he muttered weakly.
“And that’s an even bigger problem.”
No one said anything for a long, stretching beat. Then Briar’s voice floated through the screen door. “Is he gone?”
Eli flinched. But that was all Paige needed. “You should go,” she told him. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
He hesitated, like he might protest. But then he saw Noah standing beside me, glaring at him, and Lark hovering just inside the doorway. The fire in Paige’s eyes.
And me. Just waiting for the chance to take a swing at him.
He turned and walked back to his car without another word.
When the taillights disappeared, Paige exhaled.
I didn’t move.
She looked at me, like she wasn’t sure what to say next. “Will you stay for a minute? Please?”
That hit me harder than it should’ve. “Yeah,” I said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Inside, the house had the stillness of something sacred, like everyone was holding their breath. The lights were dim. Briar and Lark had disappeared down the hall, and Noah had collapsed into the corner of the couch with his phone and a glass of water.
“I’m going to tuck them in,” Paige said quietly, brushing her hair back with one hand. “Like when they were little. I need to. I have to make this okay somehow.”
I nodded.
“I’m going to bed too,” Noah said as he stood.
“I’ll tuck you in too,” she told him with a trembling smile. “No arguments.”
“Okay, Mom,” he whispered before giving her a quick hug.
They disappeared down the hall, and for a few minutes, it was just me and the tick of the old wall clock.
I wandered into the kitchen, opened a few cabinets until I found mugs, tea bags, and the scratched-up electric kettle she always kept on the counter. It rattled a little when it boiled.
By the time she came back out, her shoulders had fallen, and her eyes were glossy but dry.
She looked at the mugs. “Thank you, Hunter.”
“Of course. Let me take care of you. Please. Tell me what you need, and I’ll do it.”
“I have no idea what I need. I can’t believe this happened. I think I’m in shock.” She sank onto the couch, curling her legs up beneath her and wrapping her arms around her stomach like she was trying to hold herself together from the outside in.
“I’m here. I won’t leave you alone, I promise.” I brought her a mug and sat down beside her. Not too close. Just close enough in case she needed a hug or something.
She took the tea with both hands and held it without drinking. “They’re okay,” she said softly. “They’re all going to be okay.”
“They’re safe. They’re home. With you where they belong.”
