Chapter Sixteen

Kendrick sat next to Royce in the waiting room with Caden sitting across from them. Not knowing the process of having someone committed to the mental ward of the hospital, it surprised him they were in the emergency room waiting area.

Brad and Luis had gone back through the big door a couple of hours ago and they hadn't been seen since. Maybe the hospital had sucked them in like a giant pit, and neither one of them would get out again.

Other people sat in the room. Those who weren't critical waited their turn. One lady coughed and then rubbed her chest as if her lungs hurt. A man had a white towel, stained with his blood, wrapped around his hand. A few others looked like them, wanting news on a loved one's health.

Kendrick leaned into Royce and rested against his shoulder. "Don't internalize it. It's not about you, cousin."

Royce had always been a quiet person. He only spoke when he had something to say, and even then, he used as few words as possible. But Royce's silence spoke volumes.

Caden had his cellphone lying on his leg with his hand over it to keep it in place because his leg bounced. Stress had given Caden excess energy. Or maybe worry did that. Either way, Kendrick knew how Caden felt. When Owen had had his accident, he'd gotten so used to hospitals he was practically a card-carrying member of their waiting room. Every surgery made him more familiar with the sounds and smells.

"I can't help but think he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me," Royce whispered.

"He'd still be here." Caden averted his gaze to the television in the corner. The sound was off and the closed captioning scrolled across the bottom of the screen. The picture showed an older man walking his dog in a suburban neighborhood. "He's been sick off and on his entire life."

"How come no one ever told me before now?" It sounded like an accusation even to Kendrick who knew Royce well enough to know it wasn't. Royce didn't understand Luis's illness. Hell, he didn't really even understand Kendrick's mental health battle. He had chalked that up to Kendrick having issues because of his relationship with Randall, and while that was part of it, there was a lot more to it.

Caden snapped his gaze onto Royce. "Why would Luis tell his boss anything? He went to work, did his job, and came home, right?"

"He's more than just an employee."

"That's not what he thinks you think." When Royce opened his mouth to speak, Caden held up a hand. "I'm not the one you have to argue the point with, so save it. I'm just saying, Luis has never talked about his mental health with anyone, except for maybe Brad, and even then, it takes him until he's suicidal. He's always been like that."

When Royce stiffened, Kendrick straightened, moving his head off Royce's shoulder.

"He's done this before?"

Caden nodded and focused on the television. "This is time number two. The first time was right before Brad got locked up. He's been on medication and in counseling, off and on, for as long as I can remember."

A silence stretched between them. One where Royce gathered his thoughts. Kendrick knew what was coming because he knew Royce well, what he didn't know was if Caden would share his past.

When Royce did speak, he whispered. "The scars on his back?"

Caden sighed. "Our dad did that when Luis was thirteen. That was the day we left. I was six, but I remember that day like it was yesterday."

"Your father put those scars on him?" The disbelief in Royce's tone didn't surprise Kendrick. Neither one of them had parents who would even think of doing something so violent. They might not have been perfect, but they weren't abusive. Royce's dad had been a kind man who'd loved all kids. Uncle Ervin had been one of Kendrick's favorite people.

"I was at a friend's house, but Brad picked me up early. It made me mad because I wanted to play still. I had to sit next to Brad because Luis laid on the truck seat. We had an older vehicle, so it had one of those bench seats. We took him to this hospital. The police came and asked questions. And that night we stayed at a hotel. There were two beds, but we all slept in the same one because Luis wouldn't leave Brad's side. He was like that for a long time after." Caden's voice trailed off toward the end of the story as if he feared speaking aloud would transport him back in time.

"Is your dad still in jail?" Kendrick asked.

"No idea. I don't even remember what he looks like. Even when I lived with him, it was Brad and Luis taking care of me. He was just a man who sat on the couch a lot."

Royce leaned into Kendrick and whispered, "I'll look into it."

Kendrick nodded.

Caden rolled his eyes. "If he is out, Brad has taken care of it because I haven't seen him since the day we left."

"Luis's issue has to do with his childhood?" Why Royce asked Caden, Kendrick would never know.

"I don't know. Maybe." Caden shrugged. "It's just how Luis is. If you can't handle it than you need to leave him alone."

Royce stood and began pacing in their aisle.

"Luis is in the best place he can be to keep him safe." Kendrick leaned his head against the wall and shut his eyes. If he watched Royce any longer, he'd get dizzy.

"I know. Damn it." Nothing anyone said would make Royce feel differently. Royce had a lot of things to work out with Luis, and maybe even himself. He had to decide what was more important—the age difference or Luis.

Kyler and Andrew came in a few minutes later. "Where is he?" Kyler asked and sat next to Caden. Kyler had a wild-eyed worry that seemed to swirl around him like a cloud. Andrew sat and put a hand on Kyler's shoulder.

"In the emergency room as far as we know." Caden answered. "Haven't heard anything, but Brad is with him, so he'll be fine until he gets in the psych ward."

"What the fuck happened?" Kyler asked the room. "When we left work, he seemed upset but not ready to off himself." Kyler's voice escalated and then he moved closer to Andrew as if the whole thing stressed him out enough that he needed the support.

"Luis has been sick most of his life. He didn't come home from work and decide he was suicidal. This has been a long time coming." Caden sounded…used to it all. Not unfeeling, but resigned to going through the steps necessary to get Luis better because he had done it a few times before.

"Poor Luis," Kyler whispered.

It was a few minutes later that Brad came out of the emergency room door. He had dark circles under his eyes. His shoulders slumped forward, and he ran his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture Kendrick had never seen him do before.

Kendrick stood and would have gone to Brad, but Caden's expression stopped him.

Kendrick watched Caden's calm facade fall away. At eighteen years old, he seemed more like a man than a boy, but his youth was apparent when he needed the only parent he had ever really known. Caden went right to Brad. Even his bigger body didn't take away from the fact that Caden had to slide back to cope.

Brad hugged Caden, whispering something Kendrick couldn't hear.

Royce stopped pacing when Brad walked in, but as upset as he was, even he gave the brother's space.

And then Brad whispered something they all could hear. Whether he intended to, Kendrick didn't know. "Luis knows he has to put the work in. We already know he's strong enough. He needs our support, but he's got this."

And something about what Brad said seemed to resonate with Kendrick. It must have with Royce too, because some tension left his body and he nodded as if it was what he needed to hear.

Brad met Kendrick's gaze and held out his hand, so Kendrick went to him. "How is he?"

"Calmer now that he knows he'll get the help he needs. And he's agreed to therapy when he gets out."

Royce took a step closer. "Can we see him?"

"Visiting is tomorrow at two o'clock. He gets to choose who he wants to see, and I don't know who that will be. He'll have phone access if he wants to call someone."

Royce didn't like Brad's answer. Kendrick could tell by the way his scowl deepened.

"Nothing for us to do but go home." Brad met Kendrick's gaze. "Will you still spend the night?"

"Of course." Kendrick moved in, putting his arms around Caden and Brad in a hug. "I want to be here for both of you."