Page 52 of Found in Wild Sage

It’s because I should be with her.

And yes, I want to be with her, there’s no denying that. But I also want…

Well. It doesn’t matter, does it?

Once the sun rises, I slip out for a run. I’m restless and I have little hope of sleeping tonight if I don’t push my body. The house is quiet when I return, and since I did, in fact push myself fairly hard, I shrug out of the shirt I’ve sweat through and toss it into the laundry room. I didn’t move my shampoo and soap out of the en-suite bathroom, so I’ll need to wait for a full shower until Evie and Charlie are up. Even the other bath is a no-go since it’s full of Charlie’s baby stuff. For now, I towel off in the half bath connected to the laundry room, then head for coffee.

Facing the back yard, I stand at the kitchen counter and take in the mountain currently glowing with sunlight on deep green pines and gray rock. There’s yellowing grass by this point in the summer, too, but it’s all part of my favorite scene. I missed these mountains and all they contain while I was on active duty. I got a taste of mountains in Europe, but they weren’t right here like they are here. At home.

“Oh, no.”

The words come out like a regretful moan. I turn with a burst of adrenaline at hearing Evie’s voice and the alarm in it.

“What is it?” I take her in, frantic to know if Charlie has worsened overnight. I didn’t hear her up with him, and I was certain I would’ve, but could I have missed it? Did I doze off without realizing?

She’s holding Charlie, who has his head resting on her shoulder and looks painfully sweet in his little footie pajamas. She looks exhausted, though a touch improved since last night. I’m relieved to see she’s changed out of whatever she wore to bed last night. The valiant effort I made to keep my eyes on her face and let them roam nowhere else would’ve been nearly impossible now.

Because her eyes are not on my face. And there’s a stricken expression pulling at her mouth like she’s in pain as her gaze slides from my shoulders and down my chest, past my running shorts and all the way to my feet, where I’m still wearing my running shoes.

“You’re—I’m⁠—”

Charlie grins and since seeing me, has started shifting in Evie’s hold. She lets him down and he toddle-runs right to me. I scoop him up, glad I toweled off so at least I’m not still actively sweaty.

“How are you this morning, Charlie? Any better?” His eyes have improved—clear focus, no bright cheeks from fever. He certainly has more energy than he had yesterday.

“Okay, Dec.” He pulls back and looks at me, his smile stretching wide and his grin notably more drooly than it was yesterday.

“Is there a new tooth coming in there? Can you let me see?” I open my mouth wide to demonstrate, but without a tongue depressor, I can’t do much.

He smacks his lips, but I can’t see any bulging gums in that quick moment.

“Do you think he’s got a molar coming in?” I turn so I can see Evie, who’s still standing where she was when she set Charlie down.

Her face is almost what I’d call ashen. She’s staring at me and Charlie, but with an expression I can’t decipher.

Is she ill now? Has something happened?

What is wrong here?

She brushes some hair out of her face with a shaking hand and clears her throat. “Yes. I think maybe it’s at least partly due to teeth. At least the fussiness. I…”

“Are you feeling bad?”

She’s so off, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if she comes down with what Charlie’s got. I step toward her, but she lunges back.

“No—no. I’m going to go, uh, wash my face. I’ll be back in a few. Okay?”

She doesn’t wait for my reply before she turns and nearly runs upstairs.

Okay, that was odd.

Charlie giggles.

“That’s a nice little sound. Are you laughing at your mama?”

His grin splits his little face wide open. “Mama.”

As much as I’d like to stand here and ponder what just happened and what’s going on with her, I wisely move into the kitchen to get some food in this little belly. He had virtually no appetite yesterday, and I’m hoping maybe this cheery demeanor will also mean he eats.