The Spinster (Emerson Pass Historicals 2)

“Not a problem.” Phillip gave me a smile as he passed by.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I sat next to Flynn.

“No, I’m sorry. Everything you said is true. I should never have enlisted, knowing what it would do to him. I’ve been selfish and thoughtless.” His voice broke. “And now, Theo is sick.”

“The war did this, not you.”

“He’d never have been there if it weren’t for me.”

From the bed, Theo shifted in his sleep. His eyes flew open, then he sat up. “Why are you two staring at me?”

Flynn and I both darted over to Theo’s bed, standing on each side. I had a sudden memory of the twins snuggled up in one bed when they were about three years old. Often Papa would put them to sleep in their own beds only to find them curled up

together in one.

“What is wrong with you two?” Theo asked. “Why are you in here, Jo?” He glanced at the clock on the table between the two beds. “Is it morning or night?”

“Just before dinner,” I said. “You slept all day.”

“Jo found you in the snow,” Flynn said quietly. “This morning. Still in your pajamas.”

His eyes widened for a moment before he fell back onto his pillow.

“Do you remember when I brought you inside?” I asked.

“No, nothing since last night when I went to bed,” Theo said.

“We think you were sleepwalking,” Flynn said. “But Jo found you in time. No damage to your feet.”

“I’m sorry, Jo,” Theo said. “I must’ve scared you.”

“You did.” My eyes filled with tears. “We were worried about your feet. Papa and Jasper got you up here and into a hot bath. You don’t remember any of that?”

“I can’t say I do,” he said.

Tears streamed from my eyes. I knelt by the bed and stroked my brother’s arm. “I just want you to be safe. And happy again.”

“Ah now, don’t cry,” Theo said. “Flynn can lock me in here at night from now on.”

“How often has this been happening?” I asked.

“Flynn says about once a week,” Theo said. “But usually I just wander the hall and come right back to bed. I’m not sure what I was doing outside.”

A cold dread filled me. How would we keep him safe? Flynn couldn’t watch him constantly. What if there were a fire and they were locked in here?

“Jo, whatever you’re worrying about, don’t,” Theo said. “No harm can come to me with this one watching me like a hawk.”

I wiped the tears from my eyes. Causing Theo more stress from my angst was not what he needed at the moment.

“How do you get him back into the room?” I asked Flynn.

“The couple times I woke and realized he wasn’t here, I went out to the hallway and he was walking back to the room. Eyes open but clearly asleep.”

“I think we should talk to Dr. Neal,” I said.

“No doctors,” Theo said. “This will fade.” He placed his hand on top of my head. “Let’s talk about something else. Tell us about Phillip.”

“What do you mean?”