The Bonds We Keep

Secrets in the Silence

Estella's POV

The first morning without the feeding tube was surreal. I kept reaching for my face out of habit, only to find smooth skin where the tube used to sit. It was a small freedom, but it felt monumental, like something I'd clawed my way toward inch by inch. And now it was just...gone.Jasper was already busy in the kitchen when I finally made my way downstairs. The faint scent of something delicious wafted through the air—probably one of his masterpieces that I actually looked forward to now that I could eat it like a normal person. As I rounded the corner, I spotted him leaning over a pan, focused and quiet, a look of concentration on his face that reminded me why he was the only one I trusted to make my food.

He glanced up when he heard me, and a small grin crept onto his face. "Well, look at that—walking without a tube and no longer strapped to a machine. They grow up so fast.""Yeah, yeah, save the sentiment," I shot back, rolling my eyes. "What are you making?""Just some gluten-free pancakes," he said, flipping one expertly in the pan. "With a twist. I added some dark chocolate chips and a hint of vanilla. Thought you deserved something a little special today."

"Wow. Dark chocolate? Next thing you know, I'll be graduating to bacon and eggs."He chuckled, setting a plate down in front of me. "One step at a time, El. But maybe soon."I dug in, savoring each bite. It tasted better than I expected, maybe just because I hadn't eaten anything like this in ages, but I wasn't about to admit that. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Beckett leaning against the counter, watching me with that typical big-brother concern, as if he half-expected me to choke.

"So, are you going to be staring at me the entire time, or...?"Beckett blinked, a little embarrassed. "Right. Sorry. Just...you're doing really well, El. I didn't expect you to bounce back so fast.""Wow, a compliment," I said, pretending to be surprised. "What's next? A parade?"Beckett smirked and shrugged. "Maybe. But don't get too comfortable. I still have to check your vitals later."

"Of course," I replied with mock enthusiasm. "My favorite part of the day."We continued our morning routine, only slightly altered by my newfound freedom. The house was a bit quieter than usual, though. Milo was still at the tattoo shop, Luca was busy with work, and Ethan had gone off to take care of something at school. For the first time, I realized just how much the past few weeks had revolved around me. And now that I was slowly getting better, everyone was starting to slip back into their own lives.Just as I was finishing breakfast, Milo finally walked in, smelling faintly of antiseptic and ink. He looked a little more worn than usual, and when he saw me, he gave a nod of approval, then glanced at Beckett.

"Mind if I steal her for a sec?" he asked, his voice low.Beckett raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure. Just make sure she doesn't wear herself out."Milo led me to the living room, and we settled into the couch. For a moment, he was silent, his gaze on the floor. I could tell he was working up to something, and the suspense was killing me."Alright, Milo, spill," I finally said, folding my arms. "You didn't just pull me out here to stare at the carpet."

He glanced up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I wanted to talk to you about...Dad."I froze. "Okay...what about him?"Milo took a deep breath. "Look, I know Beckett already told you about his health scare. But there's more to it than that."

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.Milo shifted uncomfortably. "Dad's been...hiding things from us. Financial stuff. It turns out he's been covering medical bills and expenses, but it's starting to catch up with him.""What?" I blurted, barely able to process it. "Why would he hide that?""Because he didn't want us to worry. Typical Dad, right?" Milo replied, shaking his head. "But the truth is, things are getting tight, and he's been talking to me about selling some of his stuff, like his old tools, even the car, to keep up with the bills."