November Rain by Daisy Harris Page A

his lips together. Solomon so seldom showed weakness. He’d taken on the role of head of household when their parents moved back to Africa, and never seemed like he couldn’t handle care of a wife. Now, as Elias considered the responsibility Solomon had taken on, Elias realized the last year and a half must have been as hard for Solomon as it was for Sara.
    â€œWhat can I do?” Elias put a hand on his brother’s arm. They were almost the same height, though his brother was slightly broader shouldered.
    â€œI don’t know.” Solomon frowned. “You’ll be here for Thanksgiving, right? I remember she liked that last year. You could invite a friend, maybe? She needs to be around people.”
    The only person Elias could think to invite was Joe. Unfortunately, he was the last person Elias could imagine introducing to his family. “I’ll be there.”
    â€œThanks.” Solomon gave Elias a rare, though sad, smile.

Chapter Twelve
    Joe frowned out the car window. “You didn’t have to bring me.” He could have taken a taxi or the bus. Though the bus driver would lower the handicapped step, making Joe feel even crappier.
    â€œIt’s no problem.” Elias shot him a smile. There may have been something sad in his expression, but Joe couldn’t name it. “And your doctor said to bring a friend, right? Someone who could help you at home?”
    Joe’s breath came out a growl. He’d told that to Elias in frustration, not because Joe intended to follow doctor’s orders.
    Swedish Hospital loomed before them, a sprawling tan building. Elias pulled to the drop-off point.
    â€œI’m late. Just leave me in front.” Joe started to open the door. “It’s Doctor Soren on the fourth floor, but like I said—you don’t have to come.”
    â€œIt’s okay.” Elias’s jaw was tight. “I’ll come up after I park.”
    Joe bet he was being unbearable, and the fact that Elias seemed upset came as no surprise. “Hey.” He laid a hand over Elias’s. “I don’t mean to take this out on you. You know that, right?”
    Elias’s gaze shot past Joe. A nurse wearing a headscarf was standing in front of the building, checking her cell phone.
    â€œYou know her?” Joe asked.
    â€œNo.”
    Joe tried not to be annoyed by how weird Elias was acting. Joe wanted to snap at him that being in the closet with family was one thing. Doing it around total strangers was something else entirely. And Joe had been trying to apologize, something he did as little as possible.
    â€œI’ve got to go.” Joe knew he sounded gruff, and he ignored the hurt expression on Elias’s face to get out of the car.
    â€œSee you inside.”
    Joe crutch-walked to the double doors leading into the building. He could have gotten one open, but the nurse pressed the handicapped button, and both doors swung inward.
    The check-in line took forever. Eventually Joe verified that yes, he had insurance, and yes, he was in their system so they could track him down and shake money out of him if his insurance didn’t pay.
    Next came the challenge of finding Dr. Soren’s office amid the corridors that all looked the same shade of white on white. By the time Joe got to the right place, his knee ached, his shoulder burned and his calluses were inflamed from gripping the crutches’ handholds.
    Elias sat in the waiting area.
    â€œFind parking okay?” Joe hurt all over, but he tried to be amicable.
    â€œYes. Fine.” Elias bit the edge of his fingernail, but then dropped his hand to the side. “I’m going to have to spend more time at home for a little while. My home, where my brother and his wife live.”
    Elias’s segue caught Joe off-guard. “What…why?” Joe’s stomach lurched into his throat. He couldn’t handle this. Not today.
    â€œI…” Elias must have