Whisper (Whisper #1)(22)

Abby flies from her seat and runs across the room to throw herself at Director Falon. Ethan and Isaac follow, with Esther right behind them.

“Rick, honey, I thought you weren’t going to be back until the end of the week?”

“My plans changed,” Falon says in his deep, gravelly voice. He bends to give Esther a kiss on the cheek. He then ruffles his fingers through Isaac’s hair, squeezes Ethan’s shoulder and pulls Abby up into his arms.

Meanwhile, I’m taking deep breaths and trying desperately not to bring my lasagna back up, all over Esther’s pristine tablecloth.

Falon is the father of Abby, Ethan and Isaac. He’s Esther’s husband. That makes him —

“Hey, Uncle Rick,” Cami greets him, somewhat timidly.

The reason for her hesitant tone is clear when, yet again, she glances nervously in my direction. But my eyes move quickly away from her. To Ward.

Ward, my evaluator.

Ward, who happens to be Director Falon’s nephew.





CHAPTER EIGHT


“So, Landon, it looks like you and Jane are making progress.”

The words fall smoothly from Falon’s lips, and I try to keep my fork from trembling in my hand. I wonder what he is referring to, unless he considers me passing out, spending the night in Ward’s bed and whiling away a day on the couch “progress.”

“You’re two weeks down,” he continues after swallowing a mouthful of lasagna.

I’m not sure if he’s speaking to me or Ward this time — or both of us — when he asks, “Other than what I can see with my own eyes, do you have anything else to give me yet?”

I have no idea why he’s bringing up this topic over a family meal, especially given its likely ending. My likely ending. His wife and children are present, for goodness’ sake.

“You’ve read my reports?” Ward says, and he waits for his uncle to nod. “Then you know everything I have to say.”

I find it hard to believe Ward has anything to report on me. All I do with him is read.

Falon’s reaction is almost invisible, but I see the rigidity in his frame. His gaze roams around the table and he asks, “Would anyone like to tell me why Jane is with us tonight?” His eyes settle on me. “Don’t get me wrong — it’s a pleasure to have you join us. I’m just … surprised.”

My forehead crinkles with confusion. His words actually sound genuine.

“You told Landon she could have the day off,” Cami says. “When Aunt Esther invited us to dinner, we brought Jane along.”

Falon looks skeptical, and I can’t say I blame him. “Well, it’s always nice to have someone new to talk with at dinner. It keeps the conversation stimulating.”

Enzo chokes on his sip of water.

“Silly Daddy,” Abby says around a mouthful of giggles. “Jane doesn’t talk. Landy told us all about her. We’re not supposed to ask her questions, because she can’t answer and we don’t want her to be uncomforble.”

“Uncomfortable, Abby,” Esther quietly corrects.

I hear the young girl repeat the word as if from far away, my thoughts spiraling on what she just revealed. Ward told them to make me comfortable? Why would he do that? Why would he care?

I glance up to find him watching me. I wish I had the ability to freeze time, just to decipher all that’s hidden in his gaze.

“Why doesn’t Jane talk?” Ethan asks. “You never told us, Landy.”

“Ethan —” Esther starts to say, but Falon cuts her off.

“I’m curious about that myself.” The director leans back in his seat, his mouth curling with false amusement.

“I like that she doesn’t talk,” Abby says, bouncing in her seat. “She’s like one of my dollies. She and Princess Sparkles would be best friends — I just know it.”

No one seems to know what to say to that, but Abby’s intervention manages to keep anyone from returning to the previous line of questioning. Instead, normal dinner conversation springs up around the table. Ethan and Isaac tell Falon about a video game they played that day, Esther and Ward talk quietly about his shopping trip aboveground, Cami and Enzo fight over the last of the lasagna and Abby mushes her food into shapes on her plate.

I’m amazed to be witnessing something so normal. Something I haven’t experienced in so long. My heart hurts as memories try to flood my mind, but I stay in the moment and enjoy the beauty of what is unfolding around me.

“It’s getting late,” Falon says once the table has been cleared.

Taking the hint, I rise from my seat along with Cami, Enzo and Ward. The director is a living reminder of my limited time, but I am still reluctant to leave. Something has shifted within me tonight — a reminder of all that I once had, of all that I stand to lose.

I’m not ready. Not yet.

But …

Fifteen days.

That’s all I have left.

I can’t allow myself to forget.

I won’t allow myself to forget.

“Daddy, I want to read a story to Jane before she goes,” Abby says, her lower lip trembling. “I’m getting really good.”

“I know you are, sweetheart,” Falon says with undisguised affection. “But maybe another time.”