AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“When is he coming back?”
She glanced up at Mrs. Kratz, but the older woman had no words of advice. She just shook her head slowly and if Charlie wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of accusation in her eyes. Not that she blamed her. They all cared so much for Connor, and it was obvious that he was upset.
And the blame for that lay directly at Charlie’s feet.
“I don’t know, sweetie. We’re going to have to wait and see what he says.”
“Did he take my keyboard?”
“No, I’m pretty sure that he didn’t.”
“I like him,” he replied, his chin trembling in a way that tore at Charlie’s heart.
She straightened up and handed him his coat. “I do too.”
They rode home in silence and it was a silence that permeated her entire house. Everything felt heavy. The air. Her body. The silence.
Connor went directly to the front room and she heard him banging on the keys, but it was halfhearted and eventually he stopped.
Charlie busied herself preparing something for them to eat, but her appetite was long gone and she threw out most of the mac & cheese on her plate. Heck, she didn’t say a word when Connor pushed his food around and then slid from his chair.
“I’m not hungry.”
She grabbed their dishes and deposited them in the dishwasher. Once she was done with that. she leaned against the counter and pasted a smile she wasn’t feeling to her face. “Want to watch the movies we picked out last night?”
Connor shrugged and didn’t say anything.
“Lord of The Rings?”
Again a shrug.
Charlie felt tears prick
ing the corners of her eyes and she exhaled, squaring her shoulders in an attempt to get her shit together.
“You and Rick outvoted me, remember? Let’s watch the first one.”
“I don’t want to watch it without Rick.”
Okay. Charlie had to take a moment and step back. How long had she been praying for her brother to become engaged again? For him to express himself and take an interest in his surroundings? It had been a long damn haul and now that he’d finally come out of his shell, the reason behind it was gone.
She couldn’t lose her brother again. Not after everything else.
She cleared her throat and marched across the kitchen. She didn’t stop until she was on her knees in front of Connor and then she wrapped him in a big, hard, hug. He was stiff at first, but then slowly he melted into her, and Charlie smoothed his curls away from his eyes.
“Rick would want us to watch the movie. He was as excited about it as you were, so why don’t you go and brush your teeth, get into your pajamas and I’ll make some popcorn.”
“It would be more fun with him. He says I look like the…the…”
“The hobbits?”
Connor nodded.
“There’s only one way to find out.” Silence greeted her words so she tried again. “Rick wouldn’t want you to be sad, Connor. What do you say?”
She gently pushed her brother toward the door and sighed in relief when he headed to his room to change. Charlie tugged her cell phone from her purse, but there were no more calls and no texts. She eyed his name for a few moments and then biting her lip, sent him a simple message.
Hope your friend will be okay. Keep in touch.
