Free All We See or Seem by Leah Sanders Page B

shut dramatically and stormed into her room, but it was the end of the discussion… at least the end of it for Aaron. He had a sneaking suspicion his father had borne the brunt of her wrath privately.
    At any rate, she had been handling the situation surprisingly well today, though her puffy eyes betrayed her true feelings. Aaron was relieved she had gotten it out of her system. Crying women were not his favorite.
    â€œCar’s here, Aaron!” Bobby called from the front hall.
    Aaron grabbed his bags and headed down the stairs. His mom and dad met him by the door.
    â€œOkay,” Cary sighed. “Well, call us when you get there, and be sure to let us know how things are going every couple of days.”
    Bobby rolled his eyes and reached for Aaron’s bags. In a high-pitched voice he mimicked, “Yes, sweetheart. Every few days… Better yet, darling, post a play-by-play of your day on your profile page, so we know what you’re doing every minute.”
    Aaron chuckled, and Cary frowned.
    â€œNice, Bobby. Maybe you would like to leave too?” she warned.
    â€œYes. We could arrange that, I’m sure,” chimed his father. “Get rid of you and those ugly, stinking Navy rags. Clean up the air around here.” His mouth widened into a grin as he slipped his arm around his wife’s shoulders.
    â€œOkay, okay,” Bobby recanted. “I always knew you guys liked Aaron best.” He slung Aaron’s bag over his shoulder and stepped through the open door. “Just, can you get the kissing part over with while I’m outside, please?”
    Cary swung her foot up to help Bobby out the door, narrowly missing as he hopped out of the way laughing.
    Aaron took a step toward the door. What are the chances he could make a quick escape and skip the goodbye part just this once?
    â€œSo…” his father started.
    Aaron sighed. No chance. Perfect .
    â€œTake care, son.”
    â€œI will.” Aaron grasped his father’s outstretched hand then turned to his mom. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll call you in the morning.”
    â€œTonight. Don’t make me come all the way out there to check on you.” She reached out and squeezed his arm briefly. “I expect reports, soldier.”
    â€œYes, ma’am!” He stood at attention and saluted her. Then pulled her in for a tight hug and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Bye, Mom.” He stepped back and spun on his heel toward the door.
    A horn honked, and Bobby popped his head inside cautiously. “Is it safe?” he ventured.
    â€œYeah… for now,” Aaron answered. As he stepped around Bobby he whispered confidentially, “But I don’t envy you the evening you have in store for you.”
    Bobby laughed. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m not gonna be hanging around here. I have a date.”
    â€œWhat was that?” Cary interrupted.
    â€œOh, nothing, Mom. Just saying goodbye to your favorite son.” Bobby winked at Aaron and stepped out of the doorway to make room for his brother. “You better escape while you have the chance, dude. If she gets her claws into you, she’ll lock you in the attic and force you to choose a wife from her collection of eligible senators’ daughters — perfect candidates for a plastic surgery reality show, every one of them. She keeps them locked up in there too. I’ve seen them.”
    â€œRobert, will you please do something about your son?”
    â€œAll right, all right. Aaron, go on. Get outta here. Bobby? Run.”

 
    Chapter Thirteen
    Â 
    Aaron glanced at his watch. It was going to be a long layover in Chicago — four hours. He checked the wall monitor for his next flight. It would be leaving from another terminal, so he decided to make his way over there and look for a place to set up camp for his four-hour vigil.
    He slung his laptop bag over his shoulder and followed the signs