The Sinister Silhouette

“Anyway,” I state, “I can cover her until you get things figured out. The new classes start soon, and it’s better if she starts from the beginning.”

“Please, Daddy,” Aria begs, already over being reprimanded. The girl can bounce back from anything.

I can tell Theo doesn’t want to give in. He’s never had a problem with taking offers before, so I know it’s just me he doesn’t want to say yes to. His jaw tics, and the hand holding his fork is tight. I wait him out, knowing he’ll eventually give in. I’m proved right a moment later.

“Fine,” he bites reluctantly.

“Yippee!” Aria yells.

I pick up my fork and resume eating. Theo and Jules do the same. My eyes keep drifting to her, no matter how much I try not to look. Every time I do, I can feel the heat of Theo’s eyes on me. The room is silent, except for the clinking of silverware against porcelain.

“I’m done. Can I go play with Pa now?”

Theo pulls his eyes away from me and regards his daughter. “Yes, but put your plate in the sink first.”

She hops from her chair, carries her plate to the sink where it clangs inside the basin, then she runs off. I grab my beer and take a swallow. It turns silent again.

“Hey, son, you’ve got a package you need to sign for at the door,” Dad says, popping his head in the kitchen.

“You can sign for me.”

“Guy said it has to be you.”

His nostrils flare as he gets up from the table and storms out of the kitchen, not wanting to leave me alone with Jules. Just before he steps through the doorway, he shoots me a warning look. I keep mine passive and take a swallow of beer. As soon as he’s out of sight, I point my eyes to Jules. She’s watching me too. Her fingers twist her fork over and over again, giving away her nervousness.

“How have you been?” I ask.

She puts the fork down on her plate and picks up her glass of water but doesn’t take a drink. She looks at the liquid for a moment before putting it back down.

“Good. It’s nice being out of the hospital.”

“You settlin’ here okay?”

She hesitates for only a second before nodding. “Yes. Theo has been great. And little Aria is wonderful to be around.”

Her words say one thing, but the small glimpse of apprehension I saw flash in her eyes before she had a chance to plaster on a fake smile says another. I learned from an early age how to read people, and that disquiet sets off alarm bells.

My back straightens against the counter.

“Jules.” She looks up from the napkin she’s tearing apart at my firm tone. “If anything happens that makes you feel uncomfortable, you know you can call any one of us. Do you have Mom’s, Dad’s, and Ella’s numbers?”

I purposely leave out my name. I don’t think Theo would be okay with my number in her phone.

“Yes. Theo gave me a phone and his mom programmed in their numbers.”

I nod. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call one of them.”

“Thank you. I will.”

I take my plate to the trash and dump the few leftover scraps, then carry it to the sink, rinsing both mine and Aria’s and putting them in the decrepit-looking dishwasher. The thing needs to be retired and replaced.

“Have you had any memories return?” I ask once I’m finished. I go back to my spot against the counter.

“No.” She looks down at her lap before lifting her head again. “I’ve been having weird dreams though.”

I cross my arms over my chest.

“What kind of dreams?”