Page 18 of Secrets Bared
Aaron emerged from the hall bathroom as he entered Mom’s bedroom. “What’s going on?” Luke didn’t realize he’d followed him. “Mom? What happened?”
“I slipped and broke my ankle, Aaron.” She gave Luke a weary smile as he set the glass and bottle next to her. “Thank you, Luke. And thank you for taking me to the hospital. The ambulance would only have added to the cost of this.”
Luke gazed down at the woman who’d raised him as she suddenly looked older than her fifty-four years. “Do you need help with anything else, Mom?”
Then she scowled, and he saw the mom he remembered., “No, I’ll manage. Give your mother her privacy, boys. I’m going to bed and no one is to wake me until lunch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Luke and Aaron said in unison. Luke headed for the hallway, but he had to make the offer before he chickened out. “And Mom?”
She looked up at him as she swallowed her pill. “Yes?”
“I can help with the hospital bills when they come in.”
“You willnot!”
Luke sighed. “I don’t want you to worry about it. Let me help you.”
He hadn’t seen her patented Mom glare in quite some time. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Mom, please. At least think about it.”
She huffed. “Fine.”
Luke would take it. The fact she agreed to think about it at all showed how anxious she was about the money. He shut the door behind him and turned around, looking forward to sleep himself. But he jolted when he realized Aaron was still standing behind him.
“I can help, too.” He glared.
“I didn’t think you were working,” Luke whispered, then gestured for Aaron to follow him so they didn’t disturb Mom.
Aaron followed him into his room and shut the door behind them. “I have money.”
“Aaron, she doesn’t want to takemymoney, I doubt she’ll take yours.” The FBI paid well, but he wasn’t loaded.
His little brother crossed his arms and scowled at Luke’s dresser. “But she should.”
Damn it, this was the perfect opportunity to find out what was going on with his brother. “How are you getting this money?”
Aaron’s blue eyes that were a mirror image of their mom’s now turned to him. They went carefully blank. “Don’t worry about it.”
Luke narrowed his eyes and stared back. “What are you up to?”
“I’m working for a friend.”
“Who? Doingwhat?”
Aaron’s gaze wandered off behind Luke. “Lots of things.”
Now Luke crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow. “Like?”
“I can’t talk about it.”
The two brothers found themselves at a stalemate. Luke certainly wasn’t going to blink first. But apparently neither was Aaron.
“It’s been a long night. We both need sleep. But I’m going to help with the money, Luke.” Aaron turned to go, but paused at the open door. “After all, I actuallylivehere.” Then he shut the door behind him and his footsteps padded back to his own room.
Luke rubbed a hand over his chest where his brother’s final blow had landed. He needed at least a few hours’ sleep before dealing with any more teenage angst.
MaggierolledintoTheBusy Bee the next day and the first thing out of her mouth was “Any news about Deb?”
