I waited for Xavier to say something, anything, but he remained silent and turned his back on me. That same tension that I’d sensed earlier when I'd entered the stall was still there, but this time he didn't turn around again to confront or argue with me. He just ran his hand up and down his horse's neck.
I silently berated myself when I realized how wrong I’d been. There really wasn't anything recognizable about him. Even his hands, those hands that I’d thought held some special magic with horses, didn't look the same. And I knew from the feel of them around my neck that there was nothing gentle about them anymore… not like when we’d been kids and he’d tried to teach me how to do things like pick a horse’s hoof or brush its coat. I’d flourished under his touch, soothing voice, and patient demeanor. I needed to remember that it had all been an act.
Fear for my uncle had me stepping forward until I was standing next to Xavier. I carefully put my hand on the horse’s large belly as I waited for Xavier to look me in the eye.
Because one thing about Xavier that hadn't seemed to have changed was his ability to stare someone down, to confront them. I was surprised when he didn't look up. I almost felt like I’d lost something in that moment… maybe because there was a secret part of me that hadn't wanted to believe it was all a lie. Not really, anyway.
"I want you to give my uncle your notice," I said. "You owe me that."
I expected him to rage again, or at least deny that he owed me anything. I knew it was a request that he wasn’t likely to grant me. But I supposed that part of me was still hoping there was something good inside of him. But when his answer finally came, there was little emotion and I wasn't even sure which part of my statement he was responding to, the request to leave or the part about owing me.
"No."
That was it. No explanation, no apology, no nothing. Just no.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" I asked, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. I left him there in the stall, but I knew the situation was far from being resolved. As I left the barn, I realized I’d come back to Eden to make sure my uncle's business was safe from financial demise. But I’d found a much bigger threat than I ever could've imagined.
And I was the one who’d brought it into our lives, so I was the one who needed to figure out how to fix it.
Fast.
It was well after dinner by the time I got my uncle to sit down long enough to have a conversation with him. He'd insisted on cooking a huge meal for supper while I’d gotten my things unpacked in my room on the second floor.
My room was exactly like I'd left it. There were signs and posters of various famous scientists all over the wall, and several of the model planes that Uncle Curtis, Del, and I had put together when I'd spent weekends at my uncle’s house were still hanging from the ceiling.
I’d been glad to find that there was indeed internet within the house, though it was slower than I would've liked. But while my uncle had been putting together my favorite meal, his self-proclaimed “almost famous” chicken pot pie, I’d been checking emails and following up on some work issues. I'd also had the chance to call my mom, though I hadn't told her anything about Xavier. I wasn't sure why I hadn't told her. Maybe because I still needed to hear from Uncle Curtis about why he’d gone behind our backs and hired the very man who’d betrayed our trust.
"You still have room for apple pie, son?" my uncle asked. "It's Del's recipe. I don't make it as good as him, but I'm betting he’d approve."
My uncle’s voice got thick with emotion as he remembered his friend. I put my hand on his shoulder and said, "I've been smelling that pie for the last hour, old man. I'm going to trip your sorry ass on the way to the oven the second that timer beeps."
The comment had Uncle Curtis smiling and then he squeezed my shoulder in return.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Curtis. I should've come to visit more often. Especially after Del—" That was all I got out before the kitchen door opened and Xavier strode in as if he owned the place.
Curtis discreetly wiped at his eyes and I felt Xavier's gaze shift to me. He actually looked kind of pissed.
"You missed dinner, son," Uncle Curtis said to Xavier. That "son" label hurt even more now because it was so fucking wasted on a guy like Xavier. "There's food for you in the microwave," my uncle added.