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NINE
On Monday morning, Oliver sat up and stretched his arms above his head. The sun wasn’t up yet, but there was a faint glow through his window. He’d always been an early riser, but after the past few days, he’d never wanted to sleep in more. He didn’t feel rested at all because he’d been on high alert since he arrived.
He had also discovered that Adelia’s sleepwalking wasn’t confined to that first night, so he’d taken to leaving his door ajar to hear any movement throughout the house. Thankfully, all she ever did was walk to the window or sit on the couch or chair in the living room. No grabbing dangerous objects, like knives from the kitchen, or walking out the door, or falling down the stairs. But he followed her wanderings every night to make sure she was safe and sound and didn’t accidentally hurt herself. And it always ended with him carrying her back to her room.
Oliver climbed out of bed and took a shower then went to the kitchen to make breakfast as he’d done every morning since he arrived. Usually, the smell of the food and the coffee brewing was enough to get Adelia to emerge from her room, but she still wasn’t up when everything was ready, so he went to wake her.
“Good morning, sleepy—” His heart leapt in his chest at the sight of an empty bed. “Adelia?”
He crossed the room and checked her bathroom. Empty.
He went from room to room. Nothing.
He returned to the main living area, calling out her name.
“Where is she?” he grumbled as he raced down the stairs to the game room. “Adelia!”
He climbed to the main floor again and went out front to see if his vehicle was still there. Not that he really thought she’d take his Jeep without asking, but he had to check. It sat in the exact place he’d parked it days ago.
Back inside, panic overcame him. He took a deep breath and went for his phone. He brought up her name and was about to dial when he heard footsteps on the back deck. He whipped open the door just as Adelia’s blonde head came into view at the top of the stairs.
“Are you crazy?” he cried.
She startled and nearly dropped her water bottle, grabbing hold of the railing. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“Where have you been?”
“I went for a run. Lighten up, Olly.”
“You can’t just go for a run without telling me. I thought something happened to you.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. You were in the shower when I got up. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No, you weren’t,” he snapped.
“Hey! It’s not easy being cooped up in this house. I needed to get out of my head for a while and let off some steam. Running helps me do that. If I didn’t, you wouldn’t want to be around me right now. Trust me.”
“Well, I don’t want you going anywhere without telling me.”
“Okay, Dad.”
His eyes narrowed at her. “It’s for your own good.”
“That’s a total dad thing to say.”
He ignored her. “Next time, tell me, and I’ll go with you.”
“Fine!” She pushed past him on her way into the house, and the smell of her sweat pervaded his senses. Even that did something to him.
“Fine!” He walked over to the edge of the deck and stared out at the lake, taking deep breaths, trying to calm his heart rate down. They didn’t need to be snapping at each other. But thinking something had happened to her definitely had his adrenaline pumping.
He didn’t move from that place for a while, and the sound of the door opening again caught his attention.
Adelia came out of the house, looking and smelling freshly showered, which had his pulse quickening again for other reasons.
She came to stand beside him. “I’m really sorry, Olly. I didn’t mean to freak you out.” She bumped his arm with her elbow.
He glanced over at the expectant look on her face. “It’s alright.” He gave her arm an elbow bump, and the smile he received in return instantly made everything better.