Settle Down by Sera Trevor

Settle Down by Sera Trevor

Author:Sera Trevor
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-04-03T04:00:00+00:00


7

The drive home was a blur. One minute Noah was at the hospital, and the next he was sitting in his driveway, blinking down at his hands. Only when he turned off the car did he remember telling Carmen he’d pick up Bette on his way home. He’d forgotten her. What kind of a father was he?

But the thought of driving to Carmen’s was exhausting, even if it was only a ten-minute drive. He didn’t even know if he’d could make it into the house. He took his phone out of his pocket and called Carmen. She picked up after the second ring.

“How is your sister?” she asked.

“Fine. Or not fine, but the same. The doctor said she will live.”

“Praise God!” Carmen said. It sounded different than when his own mother expressed a similar sentiment. Like an exclamation of joy instead of a command. “Such a relief,” she continued. “So they take her out of the coma soon?”

“Yes, in two weeks or so.” He didn’t have the energy to say more. “I was wondering if you could keep Bette—”

“Yes,” she interrupted. “I can keep her as long as you need. You sound exhausted. You should nap. I’ll bring Bette over later, when Oscar’s home. And some dinner too.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Maybe, but I like to do it, so let me take care of you, okay? Go sleep now. I expect to find you in your pajamas when I come over.”

Noah laughed a little. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

He went inside and changed into his comfiest plaid sweatpants. But when he lay down, his exhaustion couldn’t overcome the chaos in his head. Were his parents right? How on earth was he going to care for Rebecca if she was severely disabled? Lock her away in some rest home? Zeke had his business to run, and he certainly couldn’t ask Oscar’s parents for help. He depended on them too much already.

But it was his responsibility, because it was his fault. Maybe it wasn’t Jehovah’s judgment, but if Noah had never left home, Rebecca wouldn’t have followed him. And if she hadn’t followed him, she would have never fallen into a depression and started using drugs. True, the doctor said that he couldn’t be sure if her drug use had contributed to the aneurysm, but it had to have. He was sure of it.

Sorrow and shame welled in him, but he was too tired to cry. Instead, he put an ASMR video on his phone and shut his eyes. The gentle whispers and taps didn’t get rid of his thoughts, but they dampened them a little. He lay there for a long time, halfway between sleep and waking, until he heard the garage. He sat up and looked at the time. Oscar was early.

Noah headed downstairs just as Oscar came inside. Oscar put his arms around him. “Did you get some rest?”

“I take it you talked to your mom. Is that why you’re home early?”

“She was worried. Can’t blame her, can you?”

“I guess not.



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