“Are you my mommy’s boss? The blind man?”
“Ellie, don’t be rude,” Laurie scolded.
“I see it,” Ellie exclaimed. “It’s underneath you. A white stick.”
He groped on the floor under the sheet and blanket, sighing with relief as his fingers closed around the cane.
“I came over last night to bring your mother some ginger tea to fight nausea,” he clarified, as he pushed up on his elbows, careful to face away from Ellie and Laurie. “I helped her get back in bed after she threw up. Then, I accidentally fell asleep.”
That sounded lame. I should’ve thought up a better story.
“Why did you take off your clothes?” Ellie probed, her innocent question prompting a snicker from Laurie.
“I didn’t,” he sputtered, trying to wriggle out of the twisted sheet to demonstrate. “Just my shirt. I have my jeans on.”
“Oh.” She sounded confused. “Why did you take off your shirt?”
The truth seemed implausible, as did every other response that came to mind. For Bran’s part, he was simply grateful he hadn’t removed any more clothing in his sleep, especially since he was accustomed to sleeping in the nude.
“Don’t you need to be leaving for school?” he asked, hoping for distraction.
“Not yet,” Ellie declared, her words distorted as if her lower lip protruded in a pout. “Aunt Laurie told me I could say goodbye to Mommy, first.”
“Yes,” Laurie agreed. “But you’ve done that. We should get going now.”
“Nuh-uh,” Ellie argued. “Mommy left before I got to talk to her.”
Laurie exhaled heavily. “Fine. Run in the bathroom and tell her bye. Hurry up. We don’t want to be late.”
“Okay.”
As Ellie’s footsteps pattered into the bathroom, Branson extricated himself from the sheet and climbed to his feet, hoping to make a quick escape. He turned toward the doorway, keeping his chin tucked low, his eyelids closed tight.
“A word of caution, Mr. Knight.” Laurie’s voice lost all its lighthearted cheer. “I don’t take kindly to people who hurt my friend. In spite of everything Steph’s been through, she’s still sweet and forgiving. But I’m not.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Branson replied, with his face averted. “Not that I like being threatened, but I’m glad she has a friend like you.”
“Not that I need your approval, but it’s a good thing you understand what I’m saying.” Her voice transformed to an angelic tone as she called toward the bathroom. “E
l-lie. Time to go.”
“Coming.” Humming a wordless tune, Ellie skipped back into the bedroom. Then her small body impacted his legs, almost knocking him off balance. Her arms wrapped around his waist and squeezed.
“What’s that for?” Laurie asked the question he was too shocked to voice.
“Mommy said Mr. Knight was lonely, and he needed a hug. That’s why she had her arm around him when they were in the bed.”
“That’s sweet,” said Laurie, though her tone indicated the opposite. “Now go grab your lunch and meet me at the door.”
Bran lifted his hand to cover his eyes. He felt Laurie’s disapproving gaze slicing him like a razor before she spoke again.
“It’s one thing that Ellie caught you in bed with Stephanie, without a shirt on. I know she was sick, and nothing actually happened. But Mr. Knight…”
She paused, and he squirmed in place, resigned to the castigation he knew was coming. “Yes?”
When she continued, her words came out like a Rottweiler’s warning growl. “When you’re around Steph, you better keep your pants on.”
Though her stomach was still a bit queasy, Steph didn’t throw up. She moved to the mirror, afraid of what would greet her there. As expected, her pale, blotchy face and dark-circled eyes gave testimony to the tumultuous night.