Lost in Silence (The Lost Series Book 1)(36)

The pen feels awkward in my hand but I carefully write the words.

I went out for a walk. I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going I guess. Is me being here alright?

She leans over and reads what I’ve written.

“Of course,” she answers. “Does Hudson know you’re here?”

I shake my head and write.

No, he’s gone.

“What happened?”

I don’t know. He left.

She frowns and looks up at me.

He came home and he seemed agitated. I think he was upset I cooked.

Her expression softens.

Did I do something wrong? I don’t understand.

“It’s not you,” Missy says but her eyes are sad. The kettle begins to whistle and she turns, quickly pouring the steamy water into a pair of tea cups. She drops a tea bag into each cup and hands me mine. “Lavender chamomile, I order it special.”

Carefully sipping the delicious tea, it spreads through me warming me from the night air. I didn’t realize how cold I was until that moment.

“The first place he’ll look for you is here,” she lifts an eyebrow but I say nothing. “You already know that though.”

I nod. I know he’ll come here first, most likely to enlist his sister to help find me. But I also I know I’ll be safe here.

I’m not running away. Not after everything he’s done for me. It feel like I’m a problem for him.

“I understand,” she says but she’s holding something back. I can sense it. “You aren’t the problem.”

How can I not be? He didn’t want to eat but sat down anyways. He kept mumbling to himself, something about rules and keeping his distance from me.

She looks down at her cup and grows silent, sad even.

“To say my brother has been through a lot of...shit, is putting it lightly but it’s not my place to tell you about it. What I can tell you is I haven’t seen him this engaged with anyone in a long time,” she looks up at me, the warmth in her face stirs something in my gut. “He has feelings for you.”

You’re nuts.

“The coffee,” she laughs and reaches over to grab my hand. “The day you arrived, in the kitchen, when he was making your coffee, it was then I saw it first. He was caring, attentive and aware of your every move. In that moment, it was more than coffee.”

I pull my hand back. The air grows thicker around me, the memory of that morning fresh is still fresh in my mind. Hudson watching me. Waiting for my reactions. Pouring me a cup of coffee and making it the way I preferred. The way he’d seen me do it at every stop on the road. Was I missing something?

He was being kind.

Missy chews her lip.

“The man you know him to be is the Hudson I grew up with, the man I helped raise. That man has been missing for years,” She suddenly stops and takes a deep breath. “Alice, the things he’s gone through...”

The front door opens and bangs against the wall, interrupting Missy from further explanation. “Missy, are you home?” a panicked voice calls.

Hudson.

Missy grabs my hand and squeezes. I look at her, worry in my brow. I’m not ready to face him yet, not when there is still so much to work out in my head. I quickly scribble on the pad and slide it over to her.

Please, I need some time.

“Alice is gone,” his voice is much closer now. It’s only a matter of seconds before he enters the kitchen. Missy stands up and walks to the doorway as he appears through it.

“Missy,” he rakes his hand through his hair and swallows. His eyes are wild and filled with fear. “I fucked up. Alice is…”

“Here with me,” she interrupts him as his eyes search the room finding me instantly.

“You’re here,” the relief in his voice affects his entire body. He slouches and takes a deep breath.

“Hud, let’s go into the living room and talk,” she pushes him backward and he lets her. His gaze rests on me, confusion clouds his eyes. He notices the pen in my hand and the pad of paper on the counter. I look away from him, pretending to study the pen.

“You’re writing?” He asks. His voice is filled with disbelief. Missy pushes harder against his chest, as his steps falter.

“Alice is going to stay with me tonight,” Missy tells him just as they both disappear from sight. I take a deep breath and try to ignore the pulsing pain in my chest.

*****

Hudson

“What do you mean she’s staying here tonight?” I ask my sister as soon as Alice is out of sight.

“Exactly what I said,” she places both hands on her hips, daring me to argue. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you but you need to get your shit straight. It’s bleeding into the lives of the people around you.”