Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

Bomber might have picked up on her dislike of the woman, because he didn’t act friendly; rather he positioned his body at a slight angle, as if protecting El e, or intimidating Irene. El e clung tighter to Jackson’s hand, and forced a smile. “Irene, how nice to see you. Drew looks wel .â€
    â€œI am, El e,†Drew announced before his mother could speak. “I’m playing basketbal this year.†He grinned at her. “Of course I ride the bench a lot, but I made the team.†His grin widened. “It helps that the school is so smal we hardly have enough players to field a team, but stil , I’m there.â€
    â€œIt’s been fun going to al the games,†Irene admitted. “Drew’s been in remission for months now.â€
    â€œThat’s wonderful,†Jackson said.
    â€œIt’s thanks to Libby and Tyson,†Irene conceded. “They’ve helped me work with Drew and he’s in a new study with a drug Ty developed.â€
    El e swal owed hard and nodded her head. It was the best she could do. She would never forget that moment when she felt the wrench, Libby going down, sick, disoriented, broken. They’d nearly lost her, and, although it wasn’t entirely this woman’s fault, she’d actual y struck Libby when her sister had been defenseless. The wind came in from the sea—a soft breeze ruffling her hair and carrying the soothing touch of her sister Hannah.
    El e turned toward the Drake home and blew a kiss back toward the captain’s walk, her hands going up to shift the wind back toward her sister.
    She noticed the dog looked back toward her family home as wel and she dropped her hand on his head to stroke a grateful caress over his fur. He was definitely making her first real public appearance easier.
    Jackson cleared his throat. “They’re always doing that sort of thing back and forth,†he explained.
    Drew laughed. “Everyone knows that. We al like it the most when Hannah blows Jonas’s hat off his head.â€
    â€œIs she stil doing that?†Irene asked.
    â€œOh yeah. He was chasing a couple of us when he saw us skim boarding at Big River and she slowed him down with the wind in order to give us a chance to get away,†Drew happily told them, missing El e’s quick shake of the head, and forgetting his mother was standing right there. “Man, it was so funny. He started yel ing at the wind and every time he went to pick his hat up, the wind caught it and blew it just out of reach. It kept going closer and closer to the water and he kept yel ing, ‘Hannah, don’t you dare,’ but eventual y we got out of there so I don’t know if she actual y put it in the waves.â€
    â€œShe does like to do that,†El e said, hoping to divert the attention back to her. “It’s good practice and keeps Hannah’s skil s sharp.
    She’s very precise at it, you know.â€
    Irene’s hands were on her hips, a frown on her face. “Just when were you skim boarding at Big River, Drew?â€
    He turned bright red and began to stammer.
    â€œDid you cut school?†Irene demanded.
    Jackson took El e by the arm. I’m guessing now’s a good time to get out of here before she realizes Hannah helped the boys get out of trouble. Jonas would most likely have taken them to their parents.
    â€œWe’l see you later, Irene, Drew,†Jackson said. “I hope you’re both coming to the celebration.â€
    Irene beamed at them, diverted for a moment. “Your wedding. Of course. We wouldn’t miss it for the world. And, Jackson . . .â€
    He cringed, the tips of his ears going red. The hand on her back was urging El e to move forward, but she turned back deliberately, forcing Jackson to wait politely.
    â€œThank you so much for helping us get Drew to that camp in Tahoe for AE week. We never could have managed it and he real y enjoyed it.â€
    â€œIt was so cool, Jackson,†Drew agreed. “I got to skate-board and swing on a trapeze and go sailing.†His entire face lit up. “I even drove a race car, you know one of those little al -terrain ones. I’ve never done any of those things before.â€
    Jackson cleared his throat, avoiding El e’s gaze. “I got your thank-you card, Drew. That was enough. I’m glad you had a good time.†His voice