ItM - Simon - 86

Today’s the Day to Make A Decision

Making adult decisions was always going to be hard, I knew that, but that didn’t mean I had to like every single one of them. Some of them had consequences that were easy to accept, but others had their way of ripping straight through me.

Growing up, I did have a sheltered life, and I did have things easier than a lot of people. Maybe that was why I acted out when I was in high school, why I snuck out some nights and went to clubs with friends. When no one yelled at me for sneaking out, I figured they didn’t care.

Nothing dangerous ever happened to me or Mick when we were at the Arbour House, and it didn’t look like anything bad happened to Erin, but when we were in the forest house things would come at us from every direction.

It felt like life was forcing us to make decisions, forcing us to come to terms with reality and real life, and it really bugged me. I missed the easy years I had of coasting through life.

~*~*~*~

I looked over at Mick and watched her pace. “What’s wrong now?”

“I don’t know. I feel kind of twitchy right now. Maybe it’s some bizarre allergic reaction.”

“A reaction to what? Crying and screaming at me?”

She shot me a dirty look and flopped down onto the bed. “Forget about it. So, when were you guys going to leave?”

“Soon. I should probably get back to the house, help Erin pack. She’s probably wondering where I am right now.”

“Okay.” I got up to leave and Mick jumped to her feet, rushing over to give me a hug. “I will miss you, Simon.”

I hugged her back, my chin resting against the top of her head. “I know. I’ll miss you too, Mick, but we’re not leaving yet. You can say goodbye later.”

“I’m not saying goodbye right now. I’m just letting you know that I’ll miss you when you’re gone, and Erin and Gideon. It’ll feel strange, not having so many people in the house every day.” She sniffled into my chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of my shirt. “Maybe we could rent some people to come in and stand around so we’re not so lonely.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Maybe.” I stepped back to leave, and I had to reach around to pull her hands away from my shirt. “We’ll come see you guys again before we leave.” When she wouldn’t let go, I tugged at her wrists again. “Mick, you have to let go.”

She sighed and let go, sniffling again. “Fine.”

“Go lie down with Rory, or bring her in here so you’ve got someone to hold onto. She still might be a little confused about what’s going on, and seeing you without tears in your eyes might make her feel better.”

Mick nodded and walked out with me, slipping into her daughter’s bedroom as I headed down the stairs and out the front door.

I took a longer path to the lake house, walking around the bigger house and along a different path through the trees.

It felt good, knowing Erin was at the house packing our things so we could leave, but I couldn’t help but wonder if moving away was really the right thing to do. Someone might show up to try and take Gideon away again, but they might not. We didn’t know for sure, except for what the woman said as the cops took her away.

We assumed they would come back, and I figured that if they were motivated enough to send one person with a gun, they would be motivated enough to send more people with guns.

I just hoped I could get Erin and Gideon away before they showed up.

On my way through the forest, there was an odd smell centered around some of the trees. I walked over to let my wolf sniff at it, and went through the possibilities of its source in my head.

It didn’t smell like guns, or fire, or some kind of dangerous chemical. It did smell somewhat metallic, but there wasn’t a corresponding scent that made me think of firearms.

When I got closer to the lake house, the scent was filled with hints of lemons, and a strange non-smell my wolf associated with snow or ice. It smelled familiar, and so I wracked my brain in an attempt to remember where and when I’d come across it before.

The area directly outside the house had a different scent, one I recognized, and I rushed into the house to make sure everything was okay.

Erin was asleep on the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table, with Gideon dozing in her arms. I could hear voices in the other room, but I could only focus on Erin and the baby. They were so much more important than who else might be in the house.

I sat down next to her and kissed her awake, nuzzling the side of her neck when she sighed. “Time to wake up, pretty girl.”

“Don’t want to.” Her eyes drifted open and she looked up at me. “Is everyone back at the big house feeling better?”

“For the most part. Rory settled down, and Mick pitched a fit for a little while before tiring herself out. I started asking Louisa about my parents, if she knew where they were, if we could go find them, but she said she didn’t know anything.”

“Perfect.” She shifted Gideon in her arms, moving him closer so she could brush her lips across his small forehead. “So, where are we going to go?”

“Louisa may not know where they are, but she’s got a list of houses they own, plus some keys. I’m taking us to one of those houses. We’ll be safe there. Louisa called in some favours to get us on a private plane so we won’t have to drive all the way there.”

Her eyes went wide, and to me it looked like her mind was racing. “Really? Where are we going?”

“There’s a cabin on the coast, like right on the beach. It’s the furthest one away, but I don’t want to stick to this area if they come back.”

“You’re taking us to a house on the beach?”

“I know, it sounds strange, and totally different to this place, but I think it’s for the best, Erin.”

“I’m just curious about the area, Simon. If there’s a town or city nearby, if we’ll have neighbours, if there’ll be enough room for the three of us. Did she show you any pictures so we know what it looks like?”

I shook my head and took Gideon from her, bringing him up to my shoulder. He squirmed and shifted against me, one of his arms up next to his head with the other curled up close so his fist was next to his mouth. “I’ve got directions, and Louisa made it sound like a nice place. I know, it’ll be a big change after living here in the trees, and at the Arbour House with its little forest, but it’s the best option I saw that’s still in the country.”

Her eyes narrowed and she looked pensive, but then her eyes went wide again. “In the country? You mean we could’ve gone to a house outside the country? No, don’t answer. I don’t think I want to know how many homes your parents have at their disposal.”

Chuckling, I pulled her up against my side with my free arm and kissed her temple. “Don’t worry, Erin. You only have to live in one of them. So, who’s in the other room? Do you have some moving ghosts I don’t know about?”

“No, but that would be nice. Thane showed up just after I got back, and he and Ainsley have been helping me pack up our things.”

“Ainsley? Maybe that’s what that scent was.”

“What scent? Did you find something outside?”

“There were some strange smells out there, plus one I didn’t really recognize, but when you mentioned Ainsley was here it made sense.”

Ainsley being in the house confused me for a bit, but then it dawned on me that she was the girl Thane left to find. It was interesting, and maybe it was fate for her to show up in our lives again. She wasn’t Oliver. She wasn’t hell-bent on taking Erin away from me. If Erin and most likely Thane were willing to vouch for her, then her being in the house was fine with me.

Besides, them helping with the packing gave me some time to sit with Erin and Gideon.

I rubbed my nose against the soft hair at Erin’s temple, breathing in a scent I preferred over the others I’d picked up that day. “Are you really okay with this move, Erin? If you want to stay we can stay.”

She looked at me, slightly annoyed, and wound her fingers around mine. “If I didn’t want to move, I wouldn’t have packed up our stuff. We have to go, I know that. I’m just not so sure about this house you’re taking us to.”

“I know it’s probably not what you were thinking about in terms of a new house, but it sounds okay. If you don’t like it after we’ve been there for a few days, then we can look around for a different house.” I pulled her closer, tucking her against my side. “I want you to be happy, pretty girl.”

Erin chuckled and stole Gideon out of my arms, rubbing her cheek against his as he woke up. “I’d be happier if we didn’t have to move, Simon, but I know we have to. Maybe I’ll like it when we get there. I guess I’m just used to living here in the trees, or by the trees.”

“Well, maybe we can plant some trees when we get there, if there aren’t already some by the house. Besides, we’ll be right on the beach. We can go walking in the water, and Gideon could take his first steps on the sand.” I stood up and pulled Erin into a hug, cuddling her and the baby. “It’ll work out, Erin.”

“I know. Did you want to go once the packing is finished?”

“Yeah. The longer we stay here, the more likely we’ll be here when they come back for another kidnapping attempt. I don’t want to stay any longer than we have to.”