Page 8 of Carver's Obsession

“There she goes again with the tears,” Carver said.

“I’m sorry. All I’ve caused is problems, and you’re all so nice to me.”

Kristina wrapped her arms around her shoulders and held her tightly against her. “You’ve got me…”

“And me,” Carver said.

Kristina smiled. “Yes, and Carver. We’ll get you taken care of.”

“Thank you.”

Kristina tightened her arms. That was all it took before the tears started again.

“I’m sorry, I’m just really tired. But I’ll be okay in the morning, so you don’t have to worry about me going. I’ll be out of here as soon as I can.”

Kristina cupped Erica’s face. “I doubt you get out the front door.”

“Why?”

“Honey, your sister talks about you all the time. She has tried to find you. She wants to hire a private detector to help her. I really think she’ll want to see you.”

“What about what I want?”

“What do you want?” Carver asked.

“I want to leave.”

“Without seeing Jana?” Kristina asked.

Erica nodded. “She threw me away years ago. I don’t have anything except the envelope to give her.”

“What envelope?” Kristina asked.

“It’s in my bag. It’s from our mother.”

Kristina nodded. “Is lasagna okay?”

Erica felt her stomach cramp at the thought. She couldn’t remember the last full meal she’d had. It had been years. When she had put her mom in a retirement home, she’d been there every day helping take care of her. When she wasn’t there, she was working or sleeping at a motel close to where she was. They also had a cot in her mom’s room which she used when her mom was agitated and in pain.

She hadn’t gone home except to box everything up after her mom passed on. She used a realtor from the bank they used, and the house, although small and run-down, was sold within a week.

Kristina set a plate in front of her. The smell made her mouth fill with saliva, and her stomach grumble. She tore into the pasta, eating half of it within two minutes. The only time she stopped was to answer one of their questions.

Erica ate most of the plate and even a slice of bread. “I can’t eat anymore. Thank you. It was delicious.”

“You’re welcome. Can I get you a brownie?”

Oh, Lord, she couldn’t remember when she last had brownies, but if she ate one more bite, she would explode. “Can I save it for later?”

“Of course. Let me show you the room you’re going to use.”

Erica followed her up some stairs and down a few long hallways. “This place is huge.”

“It has to be. We have around forty brothers,” Carver said.

Holy shit.

Kristina opened a door. “This is yours for however long you want it.”