“Again, you don’t keep anyone around.”
“Privacy. I’ve been burned one too many times by people claiming to have my best interests at heart. The truth is, the only people who have my best interests are myself, Scarlett, Junior, and I’m hoping you. Lies are told in magazines. Stories made more exaggerated by their need to sell more papers. It’s a ridiculous makeup as far as I’m concerned and not one I wish to help further. It’s why we as a family clean. It’s why Scarlett does most of the cooking.” He poured out a cup of coffee, handing it to Easton. “Or you get the rare occasion like today where I cook for Scarlett.”
He grabbed the tofu out of the fridge along with some peppers and tomatoes.
“What the fuck are you making?”
“Tofu scramble. Scarlett likes to experiment with it, and well, I don’t mind it either. Junior loves it, and it was one of the first recipes he came into the kitchen to cook.”
“I missed so much,” Easton said.
“I wasn’t there for the early stuff. Scarlett has pictures though. She tried to take as many pictures as possible to document it all.”
“She does?”
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t mind sharing them with you. At least let you look at them. You’re spending more time here.”
“Yeah. I’d like that. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“How would you feel if I started to clean this place?”
“You don’t like it? Is it too messy?”
“No, no. It’s just, after I got out of rehab for my drinking addiction, I, erm, I started to clean. It became something to help me heal. I will totally understand if you wouldn’t want that.”
“Did you used to clean your apartment all the time?” Liam asked.
“Yeah, it’s the most spotless place in my life, and well, now that I’ve moved here, I’ve been cleaning my bedroom with a washcloth. I like to do something with my hands.”
Liam chuckled. “You can clean. I’ll show you where all the cleaning stuff is. Scarlett would probably appreciate the help. She loves to clean and to keep on top of stuff like this.”
“Yeah.” Easton let out a chuckle.
“There’s something else?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t want to talk about it?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m a crazy person.”
“Too late. I already think you’re crazy.”
“Ha, ha. Okay. What do you think to people who see … ghosts of their past? You know they’re made up, but you have full conversations with them. Even hang out with them.”
This time Liam frowned. “You’re seeing ghosts?”
“I don’t mean ghosts. I know she’s not there, and I’ve not seen her in a little while.”
Liam paused in crumbling the tofu. “You’re going to need to help me out.”
He listened as Easton told him about seeing Carla. One of the girls from his past. Liam was aware of the story. It had been in the news not too long ago after his father’s arrest.
“I’m not crazy. I promise you. I’m not.”
“I didn’t say you were, but I think we need to take you to the hospital.”
“I know she’s not there.”
Liam washed his hands. “Easton, no one should be seeing or talking to beings that are dead.”
“He’s right,” Scarlett said, surprising the two of them. “We need to go and get you looked at. We can’t have you hurt.”
“I’m not hurt. I’m telling you.”
“Please, Easton, for us,” Scarlett said, moving toward him. “You shouldn’t be seeing Carla.”
“She’s not here. She’s … not here.”
Liam saw the panic in her eyes, not to mention his own concerns. “The fact she has been with you, I’m worried. I’m not going to take no for an answer. We’re having you checked out today.”
He grabbed his cell phone and started to call the hospital he’d donated and they promised him no matter his demands or needs, they’d take care of him.
“What about your day?” Easton asked. “I didn’t tell you this for us all to run to the hospital.”
“I’m glad you did tell me. I’m not going to take my day knowing there could be something wrong.” It could be Easton’s way of dealing and creating an imaginary friend of some kind. But it could also be more sinister, and he wasn’t going to lose Easton to his own selfish needs when it came to him.
Stepping out of the kitchen, he arranged an appointment with the head doctor, and once he got back into the kitchen, he saw how pale Easton was.
“I’m fine.”
“We’ve already got an appointment. Get dressed. I will take you to him, even if I have to knock you out and take you myself.”
“Junior’s coming home today.”
“And Junior will have other nights away with his friends. Do you really think I give a fuck about my day when your health is by far more important to me?”
“Please, Easton, stop fighting this.”
“I know you’re not used to having people take care of you like this, but I’m not someone who can walk away or pretend I didn’t hear something. I’m here for you. We’re both here for you, and we’re not going to let you go. Not like this. Not ever. Do you understand?”