Homebound

Chapter 28

     "No. No. Ha, no. Why is she so complicated to choose a gift for?!" Asher groans and rubs his face is exhaustion. It will be Delilah's birthday soon, and he doesn't know what to get her. She's worse than Robert. At least Robert will appreciate a thoughtful note. Not like Asher gave him the card he written a lifetime ago. He glances at the drawer that contains the letter and shudders. He's not ready to give it. As hard as Robert is trying, Asher can't seem to forgive him. There's a burning hatred that pulses through Asher's veins every time he even thinks about Robert. That can be dealt with later. Turning back to the computer, he returns scrolling the web for the perfect gift.

      "Asher! Dinner!" Laura's sweet voice calls from downstairs.

      "Coming!" He yells back. Maybe he should just ask her what she wants. It will be so much simpler. Entering the dining room, he sees the entire family sitting at the table. He takes his place by Joshua, and they all begin serving themselves food. Animated chatter fills the room, but Asher doesn't join. He doesn't want to get her books because she's probably already given that. He can't give clothing because she's picky. Maybe decoration for her room? Fairy lights? A poster? That's too basic. This gift has to be the best gift in the entire world. Without Delilah, he wouldn't be here. He owes her so much.

       "-mates are going to the concert."

       "Concert? Whose?" Asher focuses on Delilah's words.

      "Why Don't We."

     "Is that the band you played in the car yesterday? When is the concert?" Robert questions.

     "Yeah. It's on the fourteenth. They're playing at the Highland theater."

      "That's all the way in the city. They're going to drive for two hours." Laura mentions.

      "Well, kudos to the driver. I don't think I would drive that far out and stay to hear a bunch of teenage girls shriek." Robert praise admirably. That also crushes the courage Delilah has built up all day to ask her parents if she could go.

        "Totally." Delilah agrees and changes the subject. What she doesn't know is that Asher has been connecting dots. She isn't very good at hiding her emotions. Asher could tell the note of dejection in Delilah's voice, and the glint of hope that slip away from her eyes. She wants to go to the concert, but her pride would never let her ask. She won't set herself up for rejection when she already knows the answer. The fourteenth is in a few weeks. That's her birthday. Asher grins like a Cheshire cat.

       "Asher, why are you smiling like that?" Joshua giggles at the funny expression.

      "It's because I'm a genius."

       "Happy birthday, dear Delilah! Happy birthday to you!" The entire family sings as Delilah blows out the thirteen candles to her cake. It's a Barker tradition to have a breakfast feast before doing an activity. Delilah waits for the famous question of, 'What do you want to do today?' When her father tells her to go change, she raises her eyebrows in puzzlement. Her parents don't answer her look but share smug smiles. She turns to Asher for help, but he is stuffing his face with her birthday cake. She shrugs and decides to go with the flow.

       In her room, she sees a shirt lying on her bed. It must be from Mom. She looks down on the shirt and squeals in delight. It's a black t-shirt with the Why Don't We logo and rose in the corner.