When I hung up, I said, "Roger is coming to get me."
"Okay."
I grabbed my books from the table and turned. Tom was staring at me.
"Thank you," I said.
"For what?"
"For helping me read and giving me a great time. Seriously, you're good at reading. You're funny."
"No need to thank me," he said. "It was all my pleasure." And that's how our time ended that day.
Chapter 23
Disapproval?
When Roger pulled up, I hurried in the passenger side and we drove the short distance home. I stepped out into the crisp air and saw Felix on the porch. He was waiting. Scanning. And when he saw me, he rushed over.
We didn't say anything. Not at first. I stared into his eyes.
Roger got out and walked around us, observing. I could see something in his face. Disapproval maybe. So, once he was out of the question, I popped the question.
"Does your parents know about us?"
"No. I mean, they might. But I've never told them outright."
"Did you see the way he looked at us? Like he knows and doesn’t like it."
"Maybe." He grabbed my hand and guided me towards the field.
"Do you think they would care?"
"Why would they?"
"Because we both live here now."
"We don't really live together. It's not like we share the same room."
"So then, they probably won't care. Right?"
He laughed. "I'm not sure. But I think Moma knows. If you want, we can talk to her. But I don't care what she says." He paused. There was a small flower in a patch of grass. He picked it and placed it behind my ear. "I don't care what she says, nobody's taking us apart."
He moved in front of me and pulled me close. "You mean everything to me. My life only began when you entered it." He leaned in, but before he could kiss me, I ran away to my favorite tree, laughing.
He chased me.
I fell beside my tree, catching my breath and he fell beside me.
"Why do you do that to me?" He asked. He meant it. I think he loved my playfulness and hated it the same.
We turned on our sides to stare at each other.
"I love you," he whispered. And then kissed me.
The next morning was Saturday and this time, Ella was home. Jason was playing cars on the living room floor and I laid curled under a blanket trying to get more rest.
"Broom. Broom. Rum." Those were Jason's sound effects. Sounds that I was used to hearing now. As they were frequent.
"LeAnna, dear." I climbed out of the covers and Ella was standing beside me. I couldn’t tell if it was nurse Ella or mother nurse Ella.
"Did you not sleep well last night?"
"Soft of." I stopped to laugh when I thought about it. "Some of the ghost stories I read for school kept me up."
She laughed, too. "Well, how about you go to your bed? I'm sure it will be quieter in there." As she said this, she pointed towards Jason.
I giggled and took her wise advice. And in my room, I was warm and surrounded by soft pillows for cuddling. I pulled the covers over my head and instantly went to sleep.
An hour later – I knew by glancing at the clock – someone touched my cheek and I woke up.
"It's almost lunch time," Felix said. "And you haven't had breakfast."
I pushed my head under the blankets. And to my surprise, Felix laid next to me.
"Felix, no," I whispered. "If Ella comes in here."
He ignored me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I pushed him and pulled the covers off.
He laughed. Like it was a game. Like this wasn't bad. Like he didn't have a conscience.
"It's not funny. And it's not right."
Suddenly, there was footsteps nearing the door. And of course, Felix was still on my bed.
"Hurry, get up," I whispered but it was too late.
The door slowly opened. But it was a relief. The fact that it was only Jason and not Moma or Roger.
"What are you doing, Felix?" Jason laughed.
"Just came to wake Anna up." He got up from the bed.
"Well, do you want to come outside? There's a snake!"
"A snake?"
"Yes, but daddy got him."
He followed Jason out of my room, and I combed my hair before traveling to the kitchen when Ella was fixing lunch.
"Macaroni." I smiled, patting my stomach.
"They're Jason's favorite," Ella said, mixing the cheese. "Go tell the boys to wash their hands. It's almost ready."
I left the kitchen and neared the door. Then stopped. I could hear them. Felix. Jason. Their voices were carrying in through the open window. Jason was yammering away about the snake that almost bit me.
"But Tom saved her," he explained.
"I bet he had a blast watching over her while I was away. Was Tom around here often?"
"Yes! And I like Tom." Jason's entire being ignited as he talked about the boy.
"I bet you're not the only one who likes Tom. Does LeAnna talk about him?"
"I don't know," he said quietly.
It wasn't right. Felix question his little brother instead of me.
I opened the door, making sure I did it with gentleness despite my urge to yank it. I walked to Jason and rubbed his soft curls.
"Go wash your hands, buddy. Lunch is almost ready."
He hurried off. And I stood in front of Felix allowing my anger to show on my face and narrowing eyes.
"Would you like to talk to me?"
"What do you mean?" It was fake. He was just hoping he could get by.
"I heard you before I came outside. Asking those questions of such a little boy."
"LeAnna, I couldn't help but – "
"You should have come to me with your suspicions."
"Well, I didn't know how you would react."
"Looks like you figured out regardless."
He stood and grabbed my shoulders. "Fine then. Tom's been acting strange ever since I got back. I see the way he looks at you and I can't help but want to know what went on while I was away."
I stopped breathing. My anger vanished. And the only thing I
