Page 44 of Shadowing You

Grant, #4 Welcome to the family, such as it is.

Ethan was smiling like an idiot. He liked these guys—what he knew of them, anyway. He worked a little logic, then started typing.

EW

Daniel, Michael, Sam, Grant, Bryan, and Derrick. Yes?

The remark got a couple of thumbs-ups and a couple of yes-replies.

Thanks.

It didn’t feel like enough. Their messages made him feel welcome, almost like what Michael had said was true. That Ethan was family.

He wasn’t about to put that in a text, though. Pathetic much? He wanted to say he looked forward to meeting them, but maybe he never would. It was one thing to reach out over a Signal chat, but they hadn’t exactly invited Ethan to dinner, and if they did, what would Ethan’s sisters think about that?

His half sisters. These guys were his full cousins, though.

His thumbs hovered over the keyboard as he considered and disregarded multiple replies. He finally settled on a message and hit Send.

EW

Right now, we just need prayers.

DW

On it.

SW

My wife and I have been praying for you both.

DDW

Ditto…and ditto.

MW

What Daniel and Sam said.

BW

We’re praying too.

GW

EW

Thanks. I appreciate you guys.

And he did, more than he could express.

After the doorman delivered their meals, Ethan fixed two cups of tea from a supply he’d found in a cabinet.

A few minutes later, Mei Lin emerged from the bathroom, barefoot, hair wet and hanging not quite to her shoulders. She wore nothing but the T-shirt he’d left draped over a chair in the bedroom. It hung to her knees and… Oh boy.

“I’m sorry.” The fear he’d seen the day before flashed in her eyes. “I couldn’t find anything⁠—”

“It’s my fault,” he said. “And you don’t hear me complaining.”