Malachai by Romi Hart

Author:Romi Hart [Hart, Romi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-03T16:00:00+00:00

14

Riley touched Isabelle’s shoulder. “Are you okay? Are you sure you’re not hurt anywhere?”

Isabelle shook her head, but she couldn’t stop blinking at everything like a stunned mullet. “I’m…I’m okay.”

“You don’t look okay.” Riley got up and came back. She pushed a frosty glass of something into Isabelle’s hand. “Drink this. You’re shaking.”

Isabelle did her best to drag her shattered consciousness back to reality. She still found it difficult to accept that she was in this magnificent apartment with all that squalor and devastation outside.

Tessa moved into Isabelle’s line of sight. She set a plate on the table. “Here you go, honey. I gotta go out for a while, but you’ll be in good hands with Riley. You know where to find everything.”

“Thanks, Mama,” Riley replied.

Tessa kissed her on the cheek before leaving the two friends alone. Isabelle spun around and stared at Riley. “What’d you call her that for?”

Riley blushed and plucked a piece of okra off the plate. “She loves it. She lost her husband and her son a few months ago. She needs more family and she’s the sweetest mama anyone could ask for. It’s more of a title to me. We both know she’s not really my mama, but it sure does make her feel good.”

Riley reclined back on the couch and propped her feet on the coffee table. She put the okra in her mouth and sucked the sauce off her fingers. That simple, casual movement struck Isabelle as so comfortable and informal. It conflicted with everything Isabelle thought she knew about this family.

She shook her head and blinked. Her brain didn’t seem to be working very well. “I don’t know if I can ever get used to this.”

“You will. I was in shock when I first came here. Now I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

“Yeah, but you’re married to Victor.” Isabelle waved at the apartment. It didn’t seem real at all. “This is your home.”

“Anarock is my home,” Riley corrected. “I wouldn’t mind living in one of those houses out in Central. I’m only here because Victor’s in charge. I know he wouldn’t mind living somewhere a little more…you know, homey.”

Isabelle couldn’t stop shaking her head. “This is nuts. I don’t think I can do this.”

Riley pushed the plate of food away and took Isabelle’s hand. Everybody kept taking her hand. They treated her like a fragile child and maybe she was one. Riley towed her to her feet. “Come with me. I’ll show you a room where you’re gonna stay. You can take a shower and changed your clothes and get some sleep. You’ll feel better.”

Isabelle jerked around. She heard Malachai in those words, but all of a sudden, she couldn’t resist Riley’s ministrations. Riley led her down the hall past bedrooms standing open.

Riley waved into the master suite. “This is mine and Victor’s room. That’s Courtney’s room.”

Isabelle couldn’t resist peeking into these people’s private lives. Courtney’s room looked like a train hit it. Clothes, books, drawing pads, and makeup boxes littered the floor, dresser, bed, and night table.

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