Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 23 - Intermission

Chapter twenty two

Intermission

Sighing in frustration at the memory, she made her way to Kyle's room, laundry basked in hand. Even if they'd prepared a proper room for him when he came home, Kyle had retreated to the attic like some sort of hermit. She couldn't even pretend to understand her oldest son, and it only increased the guilt she already felt over abandoning him with her twin brother.

"No, we're not thinking about that, are we?" she said joyfully to herself. Ugh, she needed therapy.

Kyle's room was clean. Of course it was. She'd cleaned it herself at least 3 times over the last couple of weeks, and since he wasn't there to make a mess... Maxi sighed and looked in the mirror perched on the wall over Kyle's desk. She dropped the laundry basket and arranged the few stray papers on his desk. They were maps, a few mathematical calculations and some codes, obviously for college.

Between college and the academy, Kyle was rarely home, and when he was, he retreated to his room. Maxi had tried to give him his space, but she sometimes wished he'd just open up to her and tell her everything about his life.

She opened the drawer of the desk to stack the papers away. It was filled with sheet music and song lyrics. Yes, she knew absolutely nothing about her son. She stuffed the papers in, closed the drawer and left the room, her eyes tearing up.

"Freider!" she called, stomping down the stairs. She needed a distraction. Any distraction. Anything to keep her from thinking about her kids being away.

"In the kitchen," Freider called back.

Great, he was trying to cook again. Maxi appreciated the effort, but her husband was terrible. At least she'd have what to do: clean the house of smoke.

As she reached the landing, the doorbell rang. Maxi dropped the basket and headed for it. Freider came out of the kitchen wearing an apron and wiping his hands on a towel.

"Expecting anyone?" she asked.

Freider shook his head and stayed in the doorway. Maxi opened the door and came to face with an older man with an impressive white moustache, wearing glasses, brown trousers, white shirt and a checkered bowtie.

"Um, hello," Maxi said.

"Good day to you, Mrs. Grant, I presume," the man said airily. "I am Professor Palmer. We are neighbors of sorts. My daughters and I reside on the other side of the park. I am here to discuss your sons."

"How do you know our sons?" Freider asked coming up from behind and glowering at the professor.

"My daughters and I joined them on their little expedition."

Alarm bells started ringing inside Maxi's head. "Wait, if you're here, where are they?"

"May I come in? We have much to discuss." The man barged in without waiting for an answer.

Leaving Freider in the doorway, Maxi rushed back to the living room. The professor had made himself comfortable on the cream sofa and looked around as if assessing if this house was good enough for him.

Maxi opened her mouth to asked where her children were, but was interrupted by Freider.

"Wha­—Herrison? Wow, I haven't seen you in years."

"No time for pleasantries, Freider." Her husband's best friend limped his way into their living room, aided by a sturdy walking stick. "Hello, Maxi."

She raised her hand in acknowledgement, taking in Herrison's shabby appearance, the flinch at every step. "What happened to you?"