That Night in August ✔️

Chapter Twenty-Seven

That Night in August: Chapter Twenty-Seven

September 13th

C A R M E N

When we arrive back at the dance studio, class is over. All children bar little Addie are gone, leaving the room almost barren.

Addie comes bounding over to her brother as soon as she spots him. "You're back!" she cheers, grinning widely.

Zachary crouches down and opens his arms. "Hey, Ads!"

His little sister leaps into his embrace before babbling about all the things she learnt today. Her eyes light up as she talks about all the different dance moves she can now do, and she even offers to put on a little dance show for him later so he can see.

A warm feeling floods through me as I watch them interact, but a small pang of hurt also hits me.

I miss my big brother.

I miss the person he was before he spiralled.

"I guess we'd better get going," Zachary says to me after releasing Addie and standing up straight. "Thanks for today, Carmen. And... look, again, I'm sorry about—"

"Hello! Sorry to interrupt," the voice of my manager cuts in. "You're Addie's older brother, correct?" she asks as she looks at the boy beside me.

Zachary rubs the back of his head. "Uh, yeah," he mutters. "Look, I'm sorry about barging in here earlier. I know it wasn't very—"

"No, it's alright. No need to apologise." Mindy waves her hands, brushing off his apology. "I wanted to talk with you about your sister's abilities as a dancer. It turns out she is quite talented for a beginner. Do you have a moment?"

"Yeah, sure." Zachary replies and then turns to face me. "You don't mind watching Addie for a sec, do you?"

I shake my head. "Not at all."

"Thank you." He smiles before looking at his sister. "Stay with Carmen, Ads. And be good. I'll be back in a second."

With that, Mindy walks away and beckons Zachary to follow, leaving me alone with Addie.

Once the door to my manager's office clicks closed, I crouch down to eye level with Zachary's little sister. "How did you find the class, Addie?" I ask with a smile.

She beams right back at me, appearing a lot more open and outgoing now. This is the complete contrast to the timid girl she was when she first entered the studio. "It was amazing!" she exclaims.

"That's great to hear," I reply. "I'm glad you had fun."

For a few minutes after this exchange, we're quiet. Addie scuffs the soles of her worn pink trainers against the floor below, whilst I become lost in my own thoughts.

If Cory did complete work for Zachary's father, is it possible Addie knows him? I ask myself.

The thought of asking the innocent young girl beside me such a question makes me uneasy. If it were to confuse or upset her, I'd feel immensely guilty, not to mention Zachary would undoubtedly be furious.

But if she knows something, it could be extremely valuable.

"Addie, do you know a boy called Cory?" I ask apprehensively, my voice almost a whisper. However, judging by the way Zachary's little sister glances my way, I am sure she heard me. "A boy who works for your father?" I add.

She's quiet for a few moments, but then nods. "He talked to me once, when my brother was out. Zach always tells me to stay away from the men who work with Daddy. He says they're mean, like evil book characters."

My stomach drops at the way she described her father's employees. Does this mean my brother was horrible to the innocent little girl beside me? That he upset or harmed her in some way and—

"But not Cory," she then adds. "He was nice to me."

"What... how was he nice to you?"

Addie smiles. "One night, some people Daddy had round were fighting and shouting really loud. Zach was at work, and I was on my own in my bedroom. I started crying because the shouting was scaring me," she says.

A lump forms in my throat as I picture the scene. It's enough to make me feel queasy. How could anyone in their right mind make this sweet girl feel unsafe in her own home?

"Then a boy opened the door and came inside, and I got even more scared. But he said there was nothing to be afraid of, that they were just arguing over a game and everything was alright. He said his name was Cory and sat down with me. He even read me the story book Santa got me, just like Zach does some nights. Cory kept me safe and stayed with me until the shouting stopped. He was kind to me."

I'm completely taken aback, chest tight and eyes stinging. Addie's words paint a more accurate picture of the boy I remember my brother as. They stick with me long after our conversation is over, still replaying in my mind after her brother collects her from the studio, throughout my drive home and even up until the point I get into bed that night.

Her words depict an image of the kind and caring boy who looked out for me when I was younger. The brave and cool older brother I admired as I grew up.

The Cory Ellis I once knew.