Fidelity (Infidelity #5)(26)

“She’s upstairs.”

I reached for Chelsea and introduced her.

The shine in Silvia’s brown eyes reminded me of what it was like to be welcomed home. Slowly, I took in the foyer, the bleached wooden floors, light beige walls, and white woodwork. My cheeks rose at the fresh flowers arranged on the large oval table in the entry. “Is it wrong that I always feel like I’m at home here?”

“Not at all,” Silvia said. “I think that’s wonderful, because you are. Would either of you like something to eat or drink before you retire?”

“I want to see my mom before anything.”

“She’s asleep. I believe the doctor is too, but Mr. Demetri was awake a few minutes ago.”

“I’m still awake.”

We all turned toward the deep baritone voice. Like his son, he was a domineering presence.

“I see you left Georgia without my son.”

My pulse quickened and shoulders straightened. “And you have my mother. Why?”

Not for the first time, I noticed the family resemblance as Oren smiled and small lines formed around his eyes. Not only were they the same shade of blue as his son’s, they held the same silent power of communication. He seemed amused by my response.

“Miss Collins, I admire your fortitude. For the record, I always have.”

Silvia spoke to Chelsea. “Let me show you around, and I can get you something to eat or drink if you’d like.”

Chelsea shrugged questioningly in my direction.

“Wait,” I said. “Mr. Demetri…” I began introducing the two of them.

“Alex, that’s very polite of you but unnecessary. Miss Moore, you’re welcome here as long as you’d like. I promise you’re perfectly safe in my home.”

I bristled, wondering how much he knew about Chelsea. Did he know about Bryce? About everything? It wasn’t only his knowledge that bothered me. The way he referred to this home as his made the small hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. I wanted to correct him and say it belonged to Nox, but instead I held my tongue as Chelsea accepted his kind gesture and disappeared with Silvia.

“My son?” he asked.

“Is in flight.”

Oren nodded. “I received the same text. I was wondering something else.”

Talking to Oren Demetri put me on edge. Each phrase, each word made me feel as if I were constantly trying to make sense of a riddle. At three in the morning, I didn’t have the energy. “Mr. Demetri, I’d like to see my mother.”

“Call me Oren, Alexandria. The doctor is asleep, but there’s a nurse monitoring Adelaide. She’ll have around-the-clock care.”

“Why?”

“She needs it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Before we go upstairs, I think we should talk about what happened on the plane.”

I took a deep breath. “Can’t we talk in her room?”

“I’d rather not.”

“I’m sorry. This is rude, but I’ve had a long day. My mother is upstairs. I left Nox in Savannah to get to her. I’m going to go find her.”

He motioned toward the sitting room. “Hear me out. Please, this won’t take long. They say that patients can’t hear what is said around them while they’re unconscious, but I’d rather not take the chance. My house, my rules.”

My feet stopped. “Lennox’s house.”

Oren nodded. “Demetri.”

I took a deep breath and held my lips together.

“I’m not insisting on much,” he said. “Positivity. What happened today needs to be discussed, but not in your mother’s presence.”

I swallowed my resistance and tried to hear his intent. Something in his tone tugged at my heart. “You care about what is said around her? I’m going to ask again, why?”

He sat on the edge of the long sofa and leaned forward. It wasn’t the confident stance of the man I’d last met in this house months ago.

“First…” He gestured toward the sofa. “…please sit. You need to know about the flight.”

I didn’t argue as I settled at the far end of the plush couch. “Nox?”

Oren’s gaze met mine. “What about him?”

“You wanted to know something about him, what?”

He waved his hand. “It’s rather obvious.” Taking a deep breath, he sat taller. “As you should know, your mother has been given what some might consider an inappropriate amount of tranquilizers.”

Tranquilizers was a broad term. I assumed he was referring to the Versed or midazolam that Dr. Miller prescribed. “They said it was to help her withstand the DTs.”

“That’s what they said. The doctor who’s been with her tonight and I both believe that it was to keep her from talking.”

I narrowed my sleepy eyes. “Talking about what?”

He shook his head. “Alexandria, I think we need to get further into the whats and whys tomorrow. Tonight, as you said, has been very long. The point I want to make is that the excessive use of that medication has affected her body.”

My neck straightened as tears I couldn’t fight filled my eyes.

“I wanted to get your mother out of that poor excuse of a hospital as much as you.”