[This post is from Marin’s point of view.]
“I didn’t realize it would bother him that much,” Matt said quietly, looking down. “Neither of us really slept that well, either.”
“You and Hecate?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I don’t think she realized how little I actually slept.”
“Is that why you’ve got that look?”
He glared sidelong at me for a second, but I could tell his heart wasn’t quite in it. I put an arm around his shoulders and squeezed gently.
“It’s okay. It’s okay to be upset, Matt.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Upset?” He studied me for a few seconds even as he slid his arm around me. “Maybe dwelling?”
“Dwelling, maybe,” I admitted. “Upset? Only because Thom is. I don’t know what’s going on. He’s acting a little weird.”
“Mar, your husband’s always weird.”
I choked on a laugh. “Matt.”
His expression was the very picture of incredulous innocence. “What? Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not,” I admitted. “But I’m being serious here. He’s acting funny and I’m a little concerned.”
Matt sobered, brow furrowing slightly. “What’s going on?”
“He’s dwelling,” I said softly. “He’s dwelling on things that don’t matter anymore and I don’t know why and I don’t think I can get him to tell me.”
There was a silence as we got closer to the end of the hallway. Then, finally, Matt said quietly, “I’ll talk to him. Maybe he’ll open up.”
“That would be incredible,” I said, squeezing him gently. “It really would. I’m just—I’m worried, Matt.”
“You do that a lot,” he said, hip-checking me gently. “Worrying.”
“Usually for good reason.”
He winced. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Usually.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I don’t mean to be some kind of downer.”
“You are certainly not the downer.” Matt shook his head slightly. “There’s a lot of stuff to be concerned with and you seem to find the right things. I trust you, sis. Always have.”
I rose up on tip-toe to press a kiss to his temple. “You keep me grounded, little brother. That’s important, too.”
“Love you, Mar.”
“Love you, too.” He kissed my cheek and together, we emerged from the hallway and into the tends beyond. I could smell coffee and breakfast and that soothed nerves that were more ragged than I realized.
It was just another normal morning. That was all.
Just another normal morning.
