Chapter 19Harper
“You’re shivering,” Orion said, his head bent to my ear. He pulledaway a little and turned to Dash. “Hey, little man. Would you—”
He stopped, and even through my utter, wasted shock and despair, I felt Orion vibrate with fury. I opened my eyes to see him staring at my dress: sodden, dirty,bloody…
“Harper,” he said through clenched teeth. “What happened? Who did this to you?”
I shook my head, tried to speak, but Dash piped up.
“She fell down in the rain after Mama left,” he said in a small voice.
“That’s all? No one was here?”
“N-no.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Orion eased out a breath. “Okay, then,” he said tightly. “No need to fly back into the storm in a murderous rampage, eh?”
“What?” Dash was standing next to the couch, looking lost and so, so small, and hatred for our mother infused me all over again.
“Nothing,” Orion said. “Hey, little man. I need your help. I’ve never been to your house before. Can you bring me a towel?”
Dash nodded, better for having something to do.
“Orion,” I said, my voice a croak from screaming. “Please, go. I don’t want you to see…”
“No, no. It’s all right.”
Dash dashed back with a towel. “Is she okay?”
“She’s going to be just fine.” Gently, Orion wrapped the towel snuggly around my shoulders. “Just sit here for a minute, love.” He turned to Dash. “Have you had dinner?”
“Yes.”
“Brilliant. More important question: Have you had dessert?”
The barest light flickered in Dash’s eyes. “No.”
“Well, we’ll have to fix that, won’t we?”
I hugged the towel around me, still shivering, wanting to shut my eyes and block the world out. But I watched with a detached fascination as Orion moved around my house, sidestepping leaks to take care of Dash. Humiliation churned in me somewhere, but I was too numb to feel it.
In the kitchen, Orion opened the freezer. “Ice cream?”
“Too cold,” Dash said. “My Halloween candy is in the top cabinet. I’m not supposed to know, but I do.”
“Clever man.” Orion opened the cabinet and found a plastic pumpkin. He handed it to Dash and brought him back to the couch. “Honor system. Pick out three pieces and no more. Can you do that?”
Dash nodded, plopping himself down in front of the TV whereThe Princess Bridewas on pause.
He squinted at Orion. “Why are you dressed so fancy?”
“I was at a party. Your sister was supposed to come too. But then your mom left?”
Dash nodded, his lower lip quivering. “For five days with her boss. Harper was really mad.Reallymad.”
