Semua Bab RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY : Bab 141 - Bab 150

"Luke, you must keep your eyes shut."Luke raised an eyebrow but obeyed, sitting quietly on the couch as James clattered back through the living room. Amiriam stood over him, trying not to giggle at the stubborn look on the little boy's face."They're shut," Luke replied. "What's going on?""No sneaking peeks!" James ordered, voice commanding."I'm not sneaking," Luke replied. "Though I do think I should be nervous.""Try it out," Amiriam flirted, fluffing cushions. "He's been plotting this since breakfast."James came out of the hallway, wearing his best shirt, a toy clip-on bow tie crooked, and notebook tucked in. "Ready. You can open your eyes now."Luke did—and all of a sudden understood.On the coffee table sat a small vase of flowers that Amiriam had gathered from the backyard, their stems uneven but beautiful in their imperfection. Two mugs of tea sat beside them, steam curling upward.“What’s all this?” Luke asked, glancing between them.James grinned. “You and Amiriam are get

"I don't know that I can do this," Christiana whispered, her fingers twisting the strap on her book bag."You've already gotten through the toughest part," Zack told her from the chair beside her. His tone was rock-steady, even, like an anchor during turbulent seas. "You've come here."They were in the waiting area of Dr. Reiner's office. The air was lightly sweet with the smell of chamomile tea and freshly waxed wood. There was a clock on the wall, and its second hand ticking marked time so obnoxiously loudly to Christiana.She glanced toward the closed door that led to the therapy rooms. "What if she asks me things I don't want to say?""Then you remind her of that," Zack stated bluntly. "You don't owe anyone your whole history in a day."Christiana clasped her hands over her knees. She'd been so good—at being the "strong" one for so long now that being anything else was wrong. Weakness, vulnerability… Those were things you locked in closets.She had almost cancelled this session th

"Ethan Scott has been arrested."Victor's words dropped into the quiet of the Oden kitchen like a heavy stone.Luke had been filling his coffee but stopped half way. "Arrested for what?""Illegal recordings," Victor said, leaning against the counter as if the news had physically exhausted him. "Several counts. Conversations, private meetings, even—" He glanced at Amiriam, hesitating. "Even in places people had a right to privacy."Amiriam's brow furrowed. "You mean he was spying on homes?"Victor nodded gravely. "And not a single or two. We're talking years of stuff. Enough to make prosecutors salivate."James padded into the kitchen, still clad in dinosaur pajamas, oblivious to the adult tension. "What's going on?""Nothing you need to worry about, buddy," Luke said quickly, shoving him a plate of toast."But you guys all look like someone died," James replied around a mouthful."Not today," Rita's voice called from the doorway, her voice more subdued than the mood. "Eat your breakfa

"Make a wish, James."The candles on the cake flickered in the darkened dining room. They all leaned in—Luke with his face broken out in a grin, Amiriam with her hands gripping James's shoulders, Rita and Christiana seated to either side of them, observing. Jackson remained at the head, Mrs. Oden by him, her hand resting lightly upon his arm.James closed his eyes, furrowing his brow in thought before he blew out the candles. He opened them once again and declared resolutely, "I wish for all those I care about to stay."The room remained silent for only slightly longer than a normal birthday pause. It was a child's wish, but it landed with a weight in both of them.Luke ruffled his hair. "That's a good one, pal."James grinned, oblivious to the ripple his words caused.The party was small—just family, Zack, and Victor dropping by briefly. The table was cluttered with brightly wrapped presents, paper plates, and the scent of frosting.“Open mine first,” Rita urged, sliding a medium-siz

“Luke,” Amiriam called from the kitchen, “if you’re hiding my tea, this is not funny.”“It’s not your tea I’m hiding,” came his voice from outside.She frowned, drying her hands on a dish towel. The house behind her hummed with muted domestic chaos: Rita singing to herself as she scribbled in a notebook, Christiana muttering to herself over laundry, James chattering to Mrs. Oden about the possibility of dragons. Normal. A word she never thought she'd hear herself say again.Amiriam stepped out onto the porch.Luke was resting against the railing, tall, bruised, shoulders broad and staunch as a fortress that had weathered one too many storms. The gold light of evening gilded him, and in his hand he was holding an envelope—thin, white, unsealed."Is that—" she started.He shook his head slightly. "Not a poem. Not a proposal." His voice was steady, but beneath it something trembled. "Just… something I had to say."Her heart slowed. She moved closer, almost tentatively, as though if she c