realized. Despite her curiosity, she didn’t like knowing something that private about someone she didn’t know well. It made her uncomfortable.
The only thing worse would be if she let him in on something that was just as personal to her.
She rose, deciding to push Noah and his story from her mind and do her best to forget about all of it. It didn’t concern her, and he didn’t like her knowing, anyway.
They would both just pretend they’d never had this conversation.
CHAPTER SIX
“I AM GOING TO hang you by your ears, Noah David Fletcher.” His mom called out to him the moment he shut the back door.
He really needed to move out of his parents’ home, he thought for the hundredth time as he shuffled toward his bedroom. His run had worn him out on its own, then his conversation with Katie had drained him completely. His emotions had been thoroughly wrung out just by voicing one part of what he’d experienced in the Congo.
“What’d I do now, Mom?” he hollered. He wasn’t even sure what part of the house she was in, but her threat had been loud enough he could’ve heard it from a boat on the river a hundred yards away.
She suddenly appeared in his doorway. “Housekeeping services?” Her tone was that of a horrified, deeply insulted woman.
Noah cringed. He’d had every intention of mentioning that to her ahead of time, but apparently he’d gotten the days confused. “I thought they weren’t supposed to be here until Friday.”
“I don’t care what day it is. What was that little stunt about, young man?”
He had to stifle a smile, hearing again the term she’d always used when he’d been in trouble. “Just trying to help, Mom. No one can keep this house like you do, but I just thought you could use your time on so many other things.”
“That’s one hundred percent hooey, Noah.”
“Besides, while I’m living here, I should help with the chores. This was supposed to be my contribution, since I’m never home enough to do much.” Not to mention, she was a little militant about keeping things clean. He never got the chance to help with anything because she’d already done it all.
Her mouth actually hung open, then she shook her head. “Have you heard the term overkill before?”
“Would it be so bad for you to have a little help?”
“You think I’m some old lady who can’t handle it anymore, don’t you?”
He threw up his hands. “I think nothing of the sort.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. He could see a difference in how she handled things, how she’d begun to slow down. While he knew she was perfectly capable of running the house and taking care of it, he didn’t want her to feel that she had to. Maybe it was irrational of him. But he didn’t want her to work herself to death.
“You are to call the Helpful Housekeepers and tell them to keep their mops to themselves. I won’t have anyone waltzing around my house cleaning up after my family.”
“You can cancel it after I move out.”
“And when will that be? I have half a mind to kick you out tonight.”
That actually made Noah chuckle, which wasn’t easy to do these days. His mom had to be the only person on the face of the earth to ever be ticked off about the offer of free maid service.
He slowly moved closer and then hugged her. “I love it when you try to act tough.”
“Cancel them.” Without returning the affection, she marched off to the kitchen to cook dinner. Noah considered hiring a cook, just for the fun of watching her get bent out of shape again.
He shut his door. Grabbing the magazine Katie had given him earlier that day, he headed for the bathroom and turned the water on for a shower. As he waited for the water to warm up, he flipped the pages until he found the article she’d mentioned. She was the author and also the subject of most of the pictures.
His eyes were drawn to the photos. Her hair was pulled back on her head with loose strands falling into her face. The later in the ride or
The only thing worse would be if she let him in on something that was just as personal to her.
She rose, deciding to push Noah and his story from her mind and do her best to forget about all of it. It didn’t concern her, and he didn’t like her knowing, anyway.
They would both just pretend they’d never had this conversation.
CHAPTER SIX
“I AM GOING TO hang you by your ears, Noah David Fletcher.” His mom called out to him the moment he shut the back door.
He really needed to move out of his parents’ home, he thought for the hundredth time as he shuffled toward his bedroom. His run had worn him out on its own, then his conversation with Katie had drained him completely. His emotions had been thoroughly wrung out just by voicing one part of what he’d experienced in the Congo.
“What’d I do now, Mom?” he hollered. He wasn’t even sure what part of the house she was in, but her threat had been loud enough he could’ve heard it from a boat on the river a hundred yards away.
She suddenly appeared in his doorway. “Housekeeping services?” Her tone was that of a horrified, deeply insulted woman.
Noah cringed. He’d had every intention of mentioning that to her ahead of time, but apparently he’d gotten the days confused. “I thought they weren’t supposed to be here until Friday.”
“I don’t care what day it is. What was that little stunt about, young man?”
He had to stifle a smile, hearing again the term she’d always used when he’d been in trouble. “Just trying to help, Mom. No one can keep this house like you do, but I just thought you could use your time on so many other things.”
“That’s one hundred percent hooey, Noah.”
“Besides, while I’m living here, I should help with the chores. This was supposed to be my contribution, since I’m never home enough to do much.” Not to mention, she was a little militant about keeping things clean. He never got the chance to help with anything because she’d already done it all.
Her mouth actually hung open, then she shook her head. “Have you heard the term overkill before?”
“Would it be so bad for you to have a little help?”
“You think I’m some old lady who can’t handle it anymore, don’t you?”
He threw up his hands. “I think nothing of the sort.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. He could see a difference in how she handled things, how she’d begun to slow down. While he knew she was perfectly capable of running the house and taking care of it, he didn’t want her to feel that she had to. Maybe it was irrational of him. But he didn’t want her to work herself to death.
“You are to call the Helpful Housekeepers and tell them to keep their mops to themselves. I won’t have anyone waltzing around my house cleaning up after my family.”
“You can cancel it after I move out.”
“And when will that be? I have half a mind to kick you out tonight.”
That actually made Noah chuckle, which wasn’t easy to do these days. His mom had to be the only person on the face of the earth to ever be ticked off about the offer of free maid service.
He slowly moved closer and then hugged her. “I love it when you try to act tough.”
“Cancel them.” Without returning the affection, she marched off to the kitchen to cook dinner. Noah considered hiring a cook, just for the fun of watching her get bent out of shape again.
He shut his door. Grabbing the magazine Katie had given him earlier that day, he headed for the bathroom and turned the water on for a shower. As he waited for the water to warm up, he flipped the pages until he found the article she’d mentioned. She was the author and also the subject of most of the pictures.
His eyes were drawn to the photos. Her hair was pulled back on her head with loose strands falling into her face. The later in the ride or
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