Chapter 22 - ONE YEAR LATER
Brinley turned seven in October.
She insisted on having her birthday party on the balcony.
Renick said absolutely not.
Brinley negotiated him down to the courtyard.
Micah brought binoculars.
Isla brought a book.
Belle brought cake.
Owen burned the first one.
Maeve laughed for ten minutes.
Sully complained the replacement frosting was too sweet.
Renick told him old men were allowed no opinions after ninety grams of sugar.
The courtyard where Brinley nearly died had changed.
Renick replaced the black iron railing with reinforced glass.
Every door had independent alarms.
Every camera had backup power.
Micah inspected all of it.
Renick watched him.
“What?”
Micah pointed to the corner.
“Blind spot.”
Renick looked.
“There is not.”
Micah moved three feet.
“Now there is.”
Renick called security.
Belle laughed.
“Stop encouraging him.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re absolutely encouraging him.”
Micah smiled.
Brinley dragged him toward the cake.
Isla stood beside Belle.
The girl had begun calling Renick Dad three months earlier.
Only sometimes.
He never demanded it.
Belle respected him for that.
“You know,” Isla said, “technically you’re my aunt.”
Belle sighed.
“Please don’t start.”
“And Micah is my cousin.”
“Yes.”
“But Brinley calls him Bird Boy.”
“Yes.”
“Families are weird.”
Belle looked around.
Owen helping Sully with a chair.
Maeve arguing with Renick.
Brinley stealing frosting.
Micah pretending not to see.
“Yes,” Belle said.
“They are.”
That evening, after the guests left, Renick stood beside Belle in the courtyard.
“You remember the first night I knocked on your door?”
“You brought rain into my kitchen.”
“You threatened me with a knife.”
“I was cutting apples.”
“You held it.”
“You were a strange man at my basement door.”
“I was your brother.”
“You were a strange brother at my basement door.”
Renick smiled.
Belle looked at the balcony.
“What would have happened if Micah hadn’t been there?”
Renick’s smile disappeared.
“I don’t think about that.”
“I do.”
“So do I.”
They stood silently.
Then Renick said, “He changed everything.”
Belle shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“He did what children do.”
Renick looked at her.
“He saw someone in danger.”
May you like
Belle watched Micah through the window.
“He helped.”
