The Balance (Balance Series Book 1) by Kirby Hall

Author:Kirby Hall [Hall, Kirby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing, LLC
Published: 2021-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Ethan glanced down the hallway toward his bedroom door where Marise was reading. Or at least he hoped she was reading and not escaping out of the window. She said she hadn’t heard anything they’d said out in the yard and acted normal when they came back inside, but he doubted she hadn’t caught at least a little of it. Hell, his brother had practically screamed that he’d killed someone.

“I hope your brother’s okay.” His mom worried the white gem hanging from the necklace she wore as she glanced out the window over the sink for the thousandth time. The kitchen was quiet except for the sound of the dishwasher humming quietly in the background.

“I’m sure Aiden’s fine, but this is serious, Mom.” Ethan pushed out a chair with his foot and motioned for his mom to join him at the table. She’d barely touched the seat before she jumped up again and paced back and forth across the kitchen.

“Ethan.” She kept her back to him, and her head hung as she paused beside the counter. “I’m so sorry for lying to you. I never meant to hurt you or Aiden. I love you both more than anyone else in the world. I hope you know that.”

“I do, Mom. Truly. And Aiden does too. He just needs some time to cool off.”

She sniffled once and then grabbed a towel sporting a turkey and opened the freezer door. “Was Marise okay when you checked on her?” his mom asked, as she handed him the makeshift icepack. He took it even though his lip wasn’t hurting anymore.

“She said she was, but I think she’s feeling guilty about Aiden. I told her there’s more to it than her being here with me, but she still feels bad.” Ethan ran his free hand through his hair.

“You care for her, don’t you?”

He couldn’t stop a smile. “Yeah.” He removed the ice from his face and looked at his mother. “Although it might be better if I didn’t.”

“Oh, Ethan, no. You’re a good person.” She rested a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t let what you don’t understand hold you back. Earlier with Marise, you seemed more like your old self than you have in ages.”

And who exactly was that? It was the question that had been circling his mind for the last year. Who was he really? His smile faded and his gaze dropped to the towel in his hands. “With all the uncertainty in our lives, in my life, it hardly seems fair to drag her into the middle of it.” His mom reached over and touched his hand, drawing his eyes back to hers.

“Ethan, I’m sorry.” His mom sat down across from him and rested her hand on top of his. “All I ever wanted was for you and Aiden to be happy. I really thought when you went to St. James, you would be able to forget what happened last year and forgive each other.”

“I think it’s going to take more than a change of address for Aiden to forgive me.

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