My response is revealed when his body stops rocking violently, only a moment before his rocking continues, a little softer than before. My knees hit the worn carpet, and I crawl in beside him.
Smiling, I watch him a moment. Sitting cross-legged, he continues to rock back and forth as his eyes scan the pages of the astrology book on the floor faster than lightening. His contorted left hand held mid-air next to his head, the other hand is held rigid over the page of the book. With a pointed finger that looks so stiff it hurts, he turns the pages as quickly as he reads them.
I’m not sure what makes Tomas this way. I only know I see something in him that many others can’t.
His shaggy brown hair falls past his brow, which is now furrowed in thought. His left hand flicks the locks away, but they fall back exactly as they were.
I’ve been trying to gather information on Tomas for an entire year. I’ve had to do this discreetly. I mentioned Tomas to Bob one day, asking if there was anything we could do to help him. Bob, face full of compassion, ordered me to ‘Leave it alone’.
I told him I would.
But I lied.
“Tomas? What are you reading?” His rocking lessens, my cue to start talking. “You know, the stars are the most beautiful natural sight in the universe.”
His body stops rocking all-together. I hide my smile.
He’s listening.
“Have you ever just sat up in your bed with your window open, hoping you’ll catch sight of a shooting star so you can make a wish?” My voice has turned wistful. “I used to do that. I used to lose sleep catching those stars so I could make the same wish over and over.” I breathe in deeply, talking on through an exhale. “My wish never came true. I never found out who my parents were, or why they didn’t want me.”
Tomas doesn’t focus on me, but his twisted hand pushes his book towards me.
My brows rise in surprise.
This is new.
My body warms and my throat clogs at the unexpected victory. I ask on a whisper, “Would you like for me to read to you, Tomas?”
No answer, just a small nudge of the book towards me.
“I’ll read to you, Tomas.” I clear my throat. “I’ll read to you anytime you like.” I smile to myself as I pick up the book and turn to a different page. “All you had to do was ask.”
***
“So, what’s the deal with the kid?”
After reading another two astrology books to Tomas, he crawled out of his pillow fort and walked out of the library, leaving me to wonder if he actually let me in at all, or if I was so hopeful for it, I imagined it.
I don’t bother hiding my scowl. “He’s not a kid; he’s my age, Marco. And there is no deal. None at all.”
Marco picks up a slice of pizza from the middle of the café’s table and scoffs. “Don’t pretend you can’t see there’s something—”
“If you say something wrong with him, I will stab you with my fork.”
He chuckles. “I was going to say something that makes him different.”
Reaching forward, I pick up a slice and blow on it. “He is that, but it’s more than that.”
Chewing his food slowly, he asks, “He simple?”
Nibbling my pizza, I look down at our table. “Simple? Oh, God, no.” I meet his gaze, lean forward and confide, “He’s exceptional, Marco. Super smart. He reads an entire book in twenty minutes. And today, when I messed up quoting a fact to him, he started rocking and tapped his finger on the page, and when I read it again—correctly this time,” eyes wide, I grin and whisper an awed, “he stopped.”
Marco lifts his head in thought and smiles. “I’ll be damned.”
My grin falters a moment. “You can’t tell Bob about him.”
“Why?”
Taking a second slice of pizza, I avoid his enquiring eyes and mumble, “He might’ve told me to stay away from Tomas...or something.”
He barks out a laugh. “Or something, indeed.” I flush as he continues, “Don’t worry, kitten. I’ll keep your secret. See how that works? Your secret is now our secret.” He winks. “Now I’ve got ammo on you if I need it.”
My shoulders stiffen. “Well, that’s not very fair. You should tell me something I could use against you. That way, we’re even.”
Marco’s grin widens. “Doesn’t work that way, sugar. Secrets need to be given willingly, or dug up.”
I smirk at his challenge. “I’ll get your secret, Marco. Mark my words.”
The playful grin slides off his face. He eyes me in earnest and utters under his breath, “God help you if you do, Cat.”
Chapter Eleven
As soon as the motorbike enters the gates, I spot him. And my chest tightens. His body stiff, as though ready to pounce, he glares at us as we approach. This is not Bob. This is Father Robert. Bob is easy-going and funny. Father Robert is droll and serious. And by the looks of things, I’m in deep shit.
When the bike stops a few feet away from him, he steps forward in a show of threat. “Where the heck have you been?”
Marco immediately responds, “Went into town.”
He glowers at Marco. “Not you, moron; although, I’ll get to you in a minute.”
Pulling off the helmet, I adjust my veil. My heart races and I respond a meek, “I went to the library.”
“And you didn’t think to tell anyone?”
As soon as I say it, I know I’ve made a mistake. “Marco knew.”
Father Robert narrows his brows and repeats slowly, “Marco knew?”
My eyes look anywhere but at him. “I assumed we wouldn’t be long, and I know Marco has a cell phone. I’m sorry if I worried you, Father.”
Father Robert sighs deeply, and then Bob appears, “Marco does have a cell phone, and I called that cell phone,” his lip curls at Marco, “but he didn’t answer it.”
A look of surprise crosses Marco’s face as he pats his pockets. He cringes when he realises his phone isn’t there. “Shit, man, I must’ve left it in my room. I always take it with me. Sorry, Bob. Won’t happen again.”
Bob takes a menacing step forward until he and Marco are almost nose-to-nose. “Damn right, it won’t happen again. You stay away from Cat. You get me, boy?” I watch as Marco’s jaw steels and his eyes turn cold. Bob says quietly, “I know what you’re doing. Back the fuck off. You don’t get paid to stick your nose in other people’s business.”
Never in my life have I heard Bob speak to somebody this way. I’m in a state of shock.
When Bob retreats to the church, I stand there—a foot away from Marco—where I watch his jaw stiffen further and further.
Not thinking, I place my hand on his arm.
He jerks away so violently my stance quickly turns defensive.
Marco speaks through gritted teeth. “He’s right. You should stay away from me.” Silence, then, “I’d hate for you to get hurt, Cat.”
I start, “Marco—”
His eyes hard, he cuts me off with, “I mean it, Cat. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay far away from me.”
I watch him get back on his bike, start it up and speed back towards the road that leads to town. My mind tries to comprehend everything that just happened. Only one thought remains.
My once simple life is anything but that.
***
Tonight is a special occasion.
My feet move around the other women in the kitchen in a dance we have choreographed and perfected over the years. We work well together.
It’s Clark’s birthday today, so tonight, we feast like kings.
Frankie and I prep the dinner portion of the meal, while Ari works on making individual chocolate soufflés for everyone. It’s a finicky thing, baking a soufflé, even more so when making one for everyone, but Ari does this with such grace and precision; it’s a wonder she can hear anything going on around her.