Brotherhood of the Wolf

Chapter 12.1: Mommy Issues

Lark had always been more into family stuff than me.

She was the kid who looked forward to 'back to school' nights where parents got to mingle with teachers and new classmates during the first week of the academic year. She also made sure that we hosted every major holiday-Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, included-squeezing friends and extended family into our tiny house for home cooked feasts. And once, she even signed Mom, Dad, and me up for her team at the neighborhood family olympics without asking.

We won the 'name that country' geography quiz, but the Hoffmeyers took first place even though I'm pretty sure the 'balloon pop' was rigged in their favor.

So while my sister was enthusiastic about accepting Spencer's invitation to family dinner, I'm surprised she doesn't start interrogating him about his mother. It's actually one of the few times that I'd be glad for her usual intrusive questioning because I suddenly have so many things I want to know. But as we pull to a stop in front of Ward Manor, there's only one question that I feel comfortable enough to ask.

"Are you sure your mother would want to come over now?" I look at the clock on the dashboard, hoping that our arrival is late enough for Mrs. Ward to have declined the invite. "It's nearly ten thirty."

"It's not a problem," Spencer answers as he turns off the car and opens the driver's side door. "She lives here."

He's out of the SUV before I can even react although my initial instinct is to think that I misheard him. Surely Clayton would have mentioned sharing the house with his mother during one of the several times I've been here. Otherwise, leaving out that small, but significant fact could only have been deliberate.

I'm so lost in my thoughts that the others have already gone ahead and by now are scaling the steps to the entry door. I hurry after them, catching up just in time to step inside right after Lark. Mrs. Adelaide is already approaching Clayton.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we weren't expecting guests. We did the best we could-"

"I'm sure everything will be fine," he says, not allowing her to continue to apologize. "You know we aren't picky."

"Speak for yourself," Spencer says with a laugh as he goes around his older brother and heads deeper inside the house. "I've eaten okra stew once in my life and it was one time too many."

Clayton ignores this and addresses the housekeeper once again. "Is she still up?"

Mrs. Adelaide nods, her high bun bobbing on top of her head. "Yes, sir. Of course. Shall I bring her down?"

"Please," he says before turning to me and Lark. "Ladies."

We follow him into the dining room where the table is set for five, as requested. Lark sits down next to Spencer, but I stop at the entrance, keenly aware of the dirt, dried blood, and bits of broken glass covering various parts of my body.

"Is there somewhere I can freshen up?" I touch Clayton's elbow before he can also disappear.

He takes me farther down the corridor and opens the door to a small powder room. But instead of leaving me to it, he steadies himself against the doorframe.

"I know that you don't want to be here-"

"It's fine," I cut him off, not wanting to start arguing like earlier.

"Well, it is what it is," he says, raking his fingers through his hair, and hearing that he wants me here even less than I do puts a knot in the pit of my stomach. "I just want to warn you. My mother isn't well. Don't expect too much from her."

The revelation comes out of nowhere and I blink rapidly as I consider what it all means.

So his mother is sick. But why does he need to warn me? Is it that bad? Is she dying? If so, why is she having dinner with us at ten on a Saturday when she should be resting. And if she's been here all this time, why has Clayton kept it a secret from me?