Joshua

I’m drooling on my forearm when I wake up with a large, heavy hand on my head.

“Dad?” I sit up and the hand drops to the bedside.

Relief hits me like a tidal wave to the chest when he opens his eyes and smiles. “Hey, little man.”

It’s his old nickname for me, and I don’t give a shit that he’s using it—even if I am two inches and twenty pounds bigger than him now.

“How are you feeling?” My voice is strained.

“Like shit. How do I look?”

My eyes heat, and I laugh. “Like you had a heart attack.”

“Damn thing. I didn’t give it the weekend off.”

I’m encouraged by his ability to joke, but I’m still pretty freaked out. “Have you been feeling bad? What happened?”

I need a reason. I need something to fix, even if that’s not always how this type of thing works. The control freak in me is something new, something that came after we lost Mom.

“I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “I guess I’ve felt more tired lately? I just don’t know.”

I’m holding his hand when the door opens, and a pretty nurse with long, dark hair and coco skin enters the room.

“Well, look who’s joined the party. Nice to have you with us again, Mr. Andrews.”

“Mr. Andrews is my father. Call me Walter.”

More relief filters through my veins, and I shake my hand. “Easy, Slick. I’m sure Najah isn’t picking up your moves.”

“I don’t know.” Najah’s voice is monotone as she studies the machines, jotting notes on the clipboard of papers in her arms. “I heard Walter here is loaded.”

“Never underestimate the power of software,” Dad teases.

“Your vitals are good.” She gives him a wink. “Your doctor will be right in to talk about what’s next.”

Dad and I look at each other after she leaves, and he presses his lips together. “So that happened.”

“You scared the shit out of me.”

He pats my hand, and nods. “I need you to do something for me after the doc comes in. You still have those trust documents I gave you a while back?”

A fist of pain socks me in the center of my chest. “I’ve got them. I don’t think we need to dig all that out yet—”

“I want you to dig them out and bring them up here so we can take a look and be sure everything’s how you want it.”

“Everything will be how I want it when you walk out of this place.” His hand is on mine, and I put my other hand on top of his, holding tight. “You’re only sixty, dad.”

“Fifty-eight. Get it right.”

“Even more reason why you’re going to be okay. We just need to figure out what went wrong and fix it.”

I sound like a little kid pleading for a new bike, and the lines around my dad’s eyes deepen as he smiles at me.

“I love you, Josh.”

The door opens, and his doctor joins us in the room. “Let’s take a look at these scans…”

* * *

Molly

“The bedrooms are small, but the common areas are spacious.” Dean and I follow the navy-suited Peggy and her helmet of red hair through the three-bedroom home.

“It’s got a lot of carpeting.” Dean frowns, lifting an old drape and holding it out. “We should get an allowance for flooring.”

“It’s possible. I can check with the seller.” She makes a note on her iPad. “However, a motivated buyer will take it as-is.”

“But we’ve placed a bid, so it’s ours to negotiate.”

I’m relieved he’s with me, because I wouldn’t have a clue about all this stuff.

“Does this bathroom seem a bit outdated to you?” He looks at me pointedly.

“Oh, umm, well…” I see white sinks and a white toilet.

“There’s carpet in the bathroom. And is this marble?” He runs his finger along the white and chocolate speckled counter top.

“I believe it is.” Peg’s voice is disappointed.

While my mind is arguing that even with carpet in the bathroom and Dalmatian counters, this house is way better than living on the street, my gut is in total agreement. It’s an ugly bathroom.

He spins to face her, hands out. “I’m just saying, Margaret, if they’re wanting one point five million for this place, it ought to be top of the line.”

She narrows her eyes. “I prefer Peggy.”

“Suit yourself, P.” I follow him into the large kitchen area, and we both pause. “Now this is more like it. I love this backsplash and the oversized refrigerator would work very well for our purposes. Quartz countertops?”

“Yes, and Viking appliances.”

I step over to the glass door to take in the balcony view overlooking the park. “This is a really nice.”

I’m unsure if I’m supposed to say anything good at this point. Dean is playing some serious hard ball here, and I can’t say I blame him with as much as they’re asking for a three-bedroom house.

“I believe these are the selling points.” Peggy looks down at her notes again. “The view, the renovated kitchen, and the huge two-car garage and parking area. These are all advantages for what you’re hoping to do with the space. At least that’s what Mr. Andrews said.”

“I am also Mr. Andrews.” Dean’s voice is condescending, and the Realtor gives me a worried look.

“Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were…” She looks from him to me. “Who are you anyway? Joshua told me he wanted his girlfriend to see the place, and I didn’t get the impression he was speaking euphemistically.”

“I’m Joshua’s girlfriend.” My voice is quiet, and I’m doing my best not to laugh at Dean acting offended.

“Joshua is my first cousin. He and I will be working together on this venture. I’m the art therapist.”

Peggy turns to me, ignoring Dean’s flourish. “What do you think, Miss…?”

“Dixon.” I look from Dean to Peggy, panicking slightly.

I see all the flaws Dean noted, but at the same time, it’s a great space for six girls and one resident social worker. It’s three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a loft space, a big living room, kitchen, and balcony.

“I like it very much.” My voice is quiet, and I do my best to ignore Dean’s pointed glare. “I’d better talk it over with Joshua before I commit us to anything. I’m sure he’ll want to hear what Dean thinks, and with his father in the hospital…”

“Of course. I had no idea when I texted. Please tell him I wish Mr. Andrews all the best, and I appreciate him acting on this so quickly.”

“Do you have any idea how flexible the seller is on price?” I can’t believe how confident I sound asking the question. It just came out of nowhere.

“Not very, but we can try.”

“Thanks.”

We make our way to the exit, and Dean and I leave Peggy behind to straighten and lock up. We’re halfway down the block when he finally breaks.

“It’s a good place. They’re asking too much for it, but who isn’t? Seattle is a hot market, and they can get it, I’m sure.”

“Wow!” I turn to face him as we continue walking. “You were being a real hard ass back there. I can’t believe you actually like the place.”

“You can’t just give them what they’re asking, that’s not how real estate works. They’re asking an unrealistic top dollar amount, we offer a moderately low-ball amount, and then we meet somewhere in the middle.”

Poking my lips out I nod, thinking about it. “I guess that sounds reasonable.”

“Here, let’s get some lunch.”

I follow him inside the small bistro, and the hostess directs us to a dark wooden booth with leather cushions. The air is rich with the smell of coffee, and the menu has an assortment of organic options.

“This right here is why property values are through the roof,” he muses, studying the menu. “I remember when a place like that would run you three hundred, four fifty tops.”

We each order coffee and specialty sandwiches, and when the waitress leaves, Dean settles back in the booth to study me. I suddenly feel awkward, like he’s checking me for outdated marble counter tops.

“So what’s the deal with you and my cousin?”

A server comes and places our coffees in front of us. I’m glad to have something to do with my hands.

I’m not intimidated by this guy. I’m not intimidated by anyone, but I confess, I don’t like being cross-examined.

Cupping my hands around the brown mug, I lean forward, placing my elbows on the table. “I care about Joshua very much.”

Dean takes a sip. “He seems super interested in you.” He’s not smiling as he says the words.

“But?” My chest tightens, and I feel my defenses kicking in.

“You’re keeping secrets. Who was that fellow you were talking to at The Napoleon House?”

Stas would say focus. Center your thoughts. Stay in control.

“He was just an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. Everyone comes out for Mardi Gras.”

He watches me, unconvinced. “It didn’t seem like Roland knew who he was.”

“How well do you know Roland?”

“Touché.”

Glancing up, I see he’s still not smiling. I don’t want to be at odds with Dean, but I’m not going to give him more than I’ve given Joshua.

A young man hurriedly places our orders in front of us. I’m having the regular club sandwich, while Dean’s having something with sprouts. Pulling a sweet potato fry from the stack, I swirl it in the homemade ketchup. I haven’t been particularly hungry in the past twenty-four hours.

One topic in particular is burning on my mind, and while I’d like to hear it from Joshua, I’m not sure when he’ll be in the mood to tell me with his dad so sick.

“What happened to Joshua’s mom?”

A forkful of sprouts is in Dean’s mouth, and he chews silently, holding up a finger for me to wait. I take the opportunity to try the sandwich. It’s delicious, with smoky ham and sharp cheddar. The bacon is crispy, but there’s too much mayo.

“I should’ve said hold the mayo,” I mutter, using my knife to scrape it off.

Dean finally finishes chewing and pauses. “She went for her usual morning jog one day and never came back.”

My heart plunges, and I set my sandwich on my plate. I’m really not hungry now. “Did they ever find her?”

“Eventually.” He lifts his coffee cup, and I do the same. “They recovered her body in the lake… raped and murdered.”

I don’t even want my coffee anymore. “Oh, Dean.” It escapes on a painful breath.

“It pretty much rocked the town. It almost destroyed Joshua. I think it did destroy his dad. Walter never really left the house again after that. He just holes up in that huge estate in Madison Park, writing software and being a hermit. He never got rid of her things, never even changed the décor.”

My hands in my lap are clutched, wringing together. “I’m not hungry anymore.”

We’re quiet, Dean finishing his coffee. When I look up, his expression toward me is softer. “So you really do care for my cousin.”

“How could I not? He’s generous and kind…” And sexy and dirty. I don’t say that part out loud. “I can’t believe he manages to stay so positive.”

“Trust me, he wasn’t for many years. Your boy Joshua was on the fast track to self-destruction for a while.”

I frown trying to imagine such a thing. “I would never have guessed… What changed? How did he get better?”

“Don’t know. A year or so ago, he just seemed to pull himself out of it. Maybe he saw the light or had a dream or whatever happens to converts.” Hazel eyes study my face. “Next thing I knew he was talking about you.”

Guilt hits me like a sledgehammer, and I dig in my pocket for a twenty, dropping it on the table as I slide out of the booth. “I’ve got to head back to the apartment.”

He picks up the twenty and holds it out to me. “I’ll cover lunch.”

“Really?” I slowly reach for the money.

“When I suggested it, I had ulterior motives. I wanted to feel you out and see if you were just into Joshua for his money.”

“His money?” I almost laugh at the suggestion. “I didn’t even know when we met. Nobody was more surprised than me when he said his dad was… or is some tech billionaire.”

Dean waves a hand. “Don’t worry. You passed the test.” Picking up his phone, he pretends to be disinterested. “You’re better than I expected. I hope you two are very happy together.”

My lip is between my teeth again, and I’m starting to worry I might chew it off if something doesn’t give around here soon. “Thanks.”

I’m gone before he can realize my response wasn’t entirely joyous.

He didn’t state his expectations, and I’m afraid I might be worse than he expected if he knew the whole truth.