Last I Saw You

ELEVEN|ERIC

When eight o'clock hit I thought maybe mom and Eli and maybe even Tiffany and Carson were just running late. When Bridget set the food out at nine I realized something had to be wrong but I didn't call until nine thirty when Bridget suggested maybe we should all sit down and eat instead of worrying. To sit and eat without them.

I gave a fake smile and said, "Okay, just let me call home first so I can check on everybody."

"Alright, " she said, features morphing into a concerned frown.

Nodding back I grabbed the landline off the wall and hid behind the expansion of wall at the kitchens entrance. The phone rang three times before Eli answered with a gruff, "Yeah, who is it"

"Uh, it's me, Eric," I mumbled, my nerves becoming a wreck at the sound of his voice. Where was momma?

"What you calling for?"

"I just wanted to ask if y'all were coming over for Thanksgiving dinner. Bridget made cake this time and all the guys are going for a hunt afterwards and they wanted to know if you wanted to join them," I said, biting on my tongue a little.

"Nah I ain't going. I'm staying home with Tiff and Carson," he said, I was surprised by the remorse in his voice.

"What about mom?"

"She's not feeling good. That's why I said no to the hunt. I don't wanna leave Tiff and Carson and I'm definitely not leaving momma alone."

"Okay... Well can I talk to her."

"... Yeah just... wait a sec."

Peeking around the corner I gazed at everyone sitting at the table, passing biscuits and plates of ham back and forth. Everyone just looked so happy. I took note of the warm glances Bridget and Callum traded. The way Gale would clap Pete's back like a proud father any time he said something humorous. How Reagan and Braxton would point out something and Toby would give it to them whenever Bridget wasn't looking.

I saw all of it and couldn't help wishing that mom, even Elijah, wasn't missing out on this.

"Hey sweetheart," Mom's voice filled my ear.

"Hey momma," I whispered, leaning against the wall. Toby glanced up at me. He probably heard me and who I was talking to- superhearing and all. "Are you okay? Are Eli and Tiffany helping you out around the house?"

She laughed at this. "Baby you don't have to worry about me okay. I should be asking about you. How is everything?"

"Good I guess... I have something important to tell you too but you're not here and I don't wanna tell it to you over the phone."

"If you aren't gonna tell me then why did you say anything? Now I'm worrying."

"Oh! It's not anything bad, momma."

"...Good."

Frowning to myself I asked, "Are you sure everything's okay? Elijah just told me that you weren't feeling good."

"No, I'm not but I'll be okay. The new medicine they started me on is helping."

"It is?"