Deep Waters

Chapter Forty-Six

The siblings' private chat lasted longer than I knew what to do with myself. I read through three magazines I had no interest in and had browsed through the TV for an interesting show but had no luck. Had I thought to ask to use someone's phone, I could have called Gavin and had plenty of time to talk to him. However, a long sigh escaped my lips after remembering Daniel telling me not to call.

A slow movement in the floor near my feet caught my attention. There was a garter snake slithering along the wooden floor. I screamed, pulling my feet up on the couch with me to be out of its reach, just hoping it wouldn't maneuver its way up here with me. Within ten seconds, Jay came running into the room with Neveah not far behind him. Her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying. "Did you hear that scream?" Jay asked wide eyes and all.

I held back the urge to roll my eyes. "I screamed."

His eyes scrunched and he visibly relaxed. "Why?"

In order to not reply with something sarcastic, I just pointed at the snake still on the ground in front of him. A chuckle filled my ears, making both Jay and me look at Neveah. "Oh, that's just Sly."

"The snake?" her brother questioned.

"No, I named the floor Sly..." She stared him down. "Yes, the snake."

"You have a pet snake?" I asked, already knowing the answer. I mostly asked because I thought it was crazy. There's no way I'd ever keep a snake in my household by free will.

"You don't?"

I just shook my head. Was having a pet snake, the new dog? And I'm just out of the loop? It wouldn't change my mind about the idea though.

"Oh...Lydia, do you like chicken parmesan?" she asked next. I nodded. "Great. I'll go warm you and Jayden up some then...I hope you are getting comfortable," she told me smiling brightly, almost disguising her red, puffy eyes. "My home is your home."

This lady was so nice. Why couldn't everyone be like her? "Thank you."

I followed her and her brother into the kitchen, where Ezra was munching on a cookie at the end of the small dining table. Sitting myself down in a seat, I watched Neveah move a couple of containers out of the fridge and heat them up in the microwave. "Wanna cookie?" Ezra asked me.

Neveah looked at me too, I guess checking to see how I would answer. I grinned at the boy but shook my head. "Maybe after I eat my dinner. It's always best to finish the meal first." I worded my sentences carefully, wanting to set a good example for him. Especially in front of his mother.

He giggled, showing off his blinding teeth. "That's what mommy always says." Just a minute later, Neveah set a plate of food down in front of me along with a fork. "Don't worry," Ezra commented. "I already asked God to bless the food."

All of us smiled. I couldn't help but think that he and Lucy would get along well. I could imagine them running around the house playing together. Both of them were so polite for their ages and the kind of adorable you have to keep yourself from squeezing the life out of them.

#

I unfolded the blankets on the guest bed and plugged my phone in the wall to charge. Neveah was letting us sleep in her home for the night, though earlier, Jayden insisted that it would only be for tonight. Speaking of Jay, he was sleeping on the couch. I had offered since I was practically the stranger in the home, but he insisted on letting me have the bed. I guess their parents had raised them with kindness because it ran in their blood. I was currently wearing one of Neveah's nightgowns, while she washed my clothes. She had even gone down in her basement and gave me a few outfits that she had already been planning to donate.

While Jay and I were eating our dinner, she had asked questions about me and how we met and everything. We told her a little bit of the truth, but I held back on a lot of it. Fortunately, Jay had gotten the hint and followed my lead. I told her I had run away from a toxic home and was searching for my brother so I could reunite with him. Which wasn't a complete lie. I was running from my toxic father and wanting to reunite with my brother. Hopefully sooner than later, and on the terms that Charles is caught once and for all.

Getting up to flip off the light switch, I heard quiet mumbling out in the hallway. "I have to do this, Neveah," a deep voice said, leading me to figure out it was Jay.

"Why?" she retaliated. "Why can't you just stay awhile? Or try to get help? If it's Lydia, you are worried about, she is more than welcome to stay, too."

One of them sighed forcibly. "Because I've accepted it...I did a while ago now...But this, this is the last thing I wanna do before I go."

"Jayden."

"No, Neveah. It's my decision and I've already made it." He paused. "I've been praying, just like you taught me growing up, and this is what God is leading me to do. I'm sure of it."

After hearing him, I quickly switched my light off and made my way into the guest bed. It was rude to eavesdrop. What they were talking about was none of my business. My business was my run and trial with Charles. That's all I needed to worry about. But I couldn't help but be curious. What exactly was happening out in the hall? What was the last thing Jay wanted to do before he goes? And goes where? Goes as in away for a while again? ...or dies?

Sighing, I pulled the fuzzy comforter up to my neck and flipped over onto my stomach to go to sleep. Whatever was going on, Jayden seemed to have a bigger story than what he was originally leading me to believe.

#

And just like that, we were saying our goodbyes. We were all standing on the front porch. Neveah's eyes were red and puffy with an endless stream of tears flowing softly down her cheeks. Jay was trying to hold back tears himself but seemed to accidentally let a few fall when he pulled Neveah in for multiple last hugs. All I could do was stand there awkwardly and watch the emotional goodbye take place. I hardly knew any of them but just watching this sad event made my throat swell.

Jay knelt down on one knee in front of Ezra, who stared at him with confused wide eyes. He seemed to understand that Jay was leaving for a while but didn't quite get all the sad emotion taking place. "Can you promise me something?" he asked the small child while ruffling his curly hair. Ezra tilted his head with furrowed eyebrows, but nodded, nonetheless. "I want you to take care of your mom. Listen to her. Do as she asks because she will always mean well and want the best for you," he said, letting another tear fall off his chin. "Know that she will always love you and that you can turn to her with anything."

Ezra's plump lips tightened, and he seemed to be holding back a pout. Maybe he just wanted to seem strong in front of us. "Where you going?"

Jay did his best to slip him a sad smile. "To see my mom and dad."

"Will you come back?"

I caught Jay glancing uneasily at his older sister, both of them seemingly knowing something that Ezra and I didn't. "Ezra, I want you to follow God and stand with Him. You do that, and I'll see you again."

"Promise?"

He nodded, kissed the boy's head, and stood up. "I promise."

Maybe the boy standing beside me really was dying. 

***

What do you think is going on with Ezra?

I hope you all had a safe and happy New Years:) What are some of your new year resolutions?

For those of you who have read my book The Divided and are reading The Isolated, I will be posting a new chapter of The Isolated soon. I know it has been a while.

I'll try to post another chapter of this book in the next few days:)