Keith drove the boys to Samantha's house so they could deliver their gifts.
"I don't think I'd be welcomed here." Chase said.
"It's alright; I'll give her yours too." Dima said, taking both gifts with him.
Chase watched Dima walk up to the front door and ring the doorbell. A moment later, a tall woman came to the door. She exchanged a few words with Dima before Samantha showed up. Chase leaned further, hoping to get a good look at Samantha. He watched as Dima handed over the rabbit and pointed to the car.
Samantha waved at him, mouthing, Thank you. Chase nodded and waved back. Dima handed her his gift and sprinted back to the car before he waved good-bye.
"Who was that?" Chase asked, straining to get a final look at Samantha as the woman ushered her back into the house while the car pulled from the driveway.
"Her babysitter." Dima slouched in his seat and folded his arms. "Sammy says her mother took away her phone; that's why she hasn't answered our messages."
Chase thought back to Friday. Aurora had promised Samantha she'd be available whenever the girl wanted to talk. How were they going to talk if she didn't have her phone?
"Your house is on Coral Drive, right?"
"No, Seahorse Drive."
"Right, down the hill, not up the hill."
Keith manoeuvred through the criss-crossed roads of Thorny Cove. Chase had never driven around the neighbourhood before, and the court he and Logan frequented was at the crossroads of Seahorse Drive, Coral Drive, Mermaid Avenue, and Main Street, next to the bus stop.
They passed many large houses, most of which Chase noted had names like Casa Linda, Casa Buena, The Mound, The Cave, and Tamarind. There were houses that looked like castles and forts, with towers and battlements. One house on a hill facing the sea even had canons on the lawn.
You could tell the difference between a normal neighbourhood and a neighbourhood where the rich lived. The streets were all empty except for a woman or two walking.
"That's the Kostkas' live-in maid!" Dima pointed excitedly to a woman at a side gate with a duffel bag on her shoulder. "Look at her muscles! I heard when the Kostkas' daughter was younger, she was almost kidnapped, but their maid fought the attackers and even caught one!"
"She's wearing long sleeves; how do you see her muscles?"
"They're there!" Dima said, wide-eyed, gesturing in the air.
Chase burst into laughter at Dima's antics. The boy was weirder than he could ever imagine after their encounter on Friday.
"What?"
"Nothing."
When the car pulled up to Logan's house, Aurora rushed out with Sophia tailing behind her. They stopped suddenly upon seeing the car. But once Chase stepped from the vehicle, Aurora sprinted to him.
"Adam!"
She smothered him against her bosom, grabbing a fistful of hair and inhaling his scent deeply. Satisfied that it was him, she let go and looked him over before slapping him across the face.
The action caught Chase off guard. One moment she made him feel wanted and loved, and the next she was slapping him. His eyes burned as the betrayal dug deep. He looked at her, slack-jawed and confused.
"Where were you?" She yelled at him.
"Sorry, Mrs. Jordahl, it's my fault." Dima said, quickly stepping from the vehicle. "I invited Adam to go shopping with me."
"Mr. Buchardt, did you also encourage him not to tell his parents?" Aurora asked sternly.
Dima stayed silent, his gaze dancing awkwardly around Aurora.
"I didn't think you'd let me go to Sammy's house." Chase spoke softly.
"You bought gifts for Samantha?" She asked the boys.
"I can vouch for them," Said Keith.
Aurora looked down at Chase, who nodded at her.
"Thank you." She nodded to Keith.
Satisfied that his friend was no longer in trouble, Dima hopped back into the car. "Bye, Adam. See you later."
The boys waved goodbye until they could no longer see each other.
With Adam safely back home, Aurora relaxed. An action that caused her to sway, but otherwise she was fine. Still, Sophia insisted on her resting in the room.
"Keep me company, Adam," she ordered as they walked back to the house.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
