Sakura woke with a start, her mind reeling with confusion. Where am I? she wondered as she stared long and hard up at the unfamiliar ceiling. She turned her head, searching about her surroundings, and then everything came back to her.
There had been the appointment with Dr. Mason yesterday. Sebastian had been there with her. Then he’d taken her to the drugstore to get her prescribed medication. After that, they’d been at the hotel, intending to have lunch, and then… Mrs. Byrd.
A lump formed in her throat as she recalled the cold shiver that had passed through her the moment she’d seen the woman’s face.
Sakura shut her eyes for a moment as she took slow, deep breaths. She wasn’t going to let that woman scare her witless. Not anymore.
She sat up, rubbing her fingers and thumb against her temples. Her headache was getting worse, and waiting patiently for it to ease wasn’t going to happen. Plus, she was very hungry. She wondered if Mom Brenda had any breakfast left.
She flipped the duvet off her person and got out of bed. Then she went about searching for a robe. She found one in the empty closet. She unhooked it and put on the silky material, the hem resting just above her knees. She tied the front into a knot and then headed out the door.
She was in the living area when she heard hums of male voices from the dining area nearer to the kitchen. She frowned, wondering if Daddy James had guests. She tentatively glanced down at herself and knew she wasn’t presentable enough to be seen. Even more so, she wasn’t up to meeting anyone just yet.
She was about to turn back when Brenda appeared in the doorway.
“Sweetheart,” Brenda greeted. “You’re up? How are you feeling?”
Sakura moved forward and hugged her mother tightly. She said, “Better. I’m so hungry and my head is about to explode.”
Brenda laughed. “Well then, how about lunch and some aspirin?”
“Lunch?” Sakura queried. “Oh God! Did I sleep in that late?”
Brenda nodded. Clearly, her daughter didn’t remember what had happened four hours ago right here in the living area. Her reaction to the nightmare had scared all of them. If Darcy hadn’t been able to soothe her and calm her down, then Brenda didn’t know what they’d do next.
“Come on,” she said, leading Sakura by the wrist. “Let’s make you some lunch.”
Sakura nodded. “Something hot would be nice,” she said. “Soup.”
“Yes,” Brenda agreed. “We have some pumpkin soup left over from last night.”
“Sounds good.”
The moment Sakura stepped into the dining area, the room suddenly became silent, and the seven Princeton brothers turned their attention to her. She came to a complete stop and blinked.
“Sakura,” Sebastian said, rushing over to her in a flash. “How are you feeling?”
“Sakura,” Darcy said. “You’re up.” He came over to her as well, standing just behind Sebastian.
Toby, who was on Logan’s lap, barked a greeting.
Sakura opened her mouth to utter something but then closed it again. She turned to Brenda for answers as to why the brothers were here in the first place.
Brenda said, “Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll warm that pumpkin soup for you?”
Sakura hesitated for a moment. Then she nodded and made her way, with Darcy and Sebastian beside her, toward the table. She took a seat on one of the empty chairs and pulled her robe closer around her front. Sebastian and Darcy took the seats on either side of her, and Conrad chose to swap seats so he could be closer to her.
“What are you guys doing here?” she asked, confused. “How did you know I was here?”
“We phoned Sosuke,” Nicolas said from the other side of the table.
“Sebastian said you weren’t well yesterday,” Conrad chimed in. “Are you all right? Sosuke said you disappeared in the middle of the night.”
Sakura blushed. “It was so stupid really. It was nothing.”
The brothers looked at one another. They knew she must have had the nightmare after bumping into that strange woman in the hotel, and it wasn’t just nothing. As of this morning when they’d seen her screaming in terror, it scared the shit out of them. Of course, they now understood it was a regular occurrence, these nightmares of hers. No wonder she was always tired and her health was deteriorating.
“Sakura, darling,” Tristan said, “don’t you trust us enough to come to us?”
“We were only upstairs,” Conrad said, looking a little wounded.
Sakura cocked her head to one side. “Sorry. I… Daddy James and Mom Brenda just kind of jumped into my head when…”
Hayden said, folding his arms across his chest, “So are you going to tell us what’s going on or not?”
Sakura glanced from one brother to another and then rested on Nicolas. “I…”
“Sakura.” James’s voice reached them, and Sakura sighed with relief. She rushed off her chair and came to hug him tight, pleased she didn’t have to answer the brothers straightaway.
“Thanks,” she said. “For letting me stay here.”
James patted her head, his eyes on his sons. When Sakura moved back, he said, “Have you had anything to eat yet?”
Sakura shook her head.
“Eat first and then shower. Then I’ll tell you what I’ve found out.”
Sakura paled, her heart leaping within her chest. She dreaded what Daddy James had found out, yet she desperately wanted to know. She nodded reluctantly. She returned to her seat, her whole being shaking. The brothers noticed and sported worried looks on their faces.
Sebastian placed his hand on top of hers and gave her a little supportive squeeze. Sakura glanced up at him and flashed him a grateful smile.
Brenda finally returned from the kitchen with a bowl of hot pumpkin soup, two aspirin tablets, and a glass of water.
“You’re sick?” Conrad asked.
“Headache,” she said, picking up the tablets. She swallowed those quickly and then drank some water. Once she was done with that, she dug into her soup, savoring the smooth, rich taste of pumpkin and cream. Halfway, she glanced up and noted the brothers were watching her, their eyes intense, as if they’d never seen anyone eating before.
She wiped her mouth and said, “You guys aren’t eating?”
“We had ours,” Logan said, stroking Toby’s head. And Toby agreed with a loud bark.
The noise drew her attention to her beloved pet, and she smiled. “Hey, Toby, did you sleep well last night?”
Again, Toby barked.
“I didn’t squeeze you, did I?” She chuckled. “I slept like a log.”
At this comment, the brothers looked at one another. Clearly, Sakura didn’t remember what had happened that morning when she came into the living room and started screaming in front of them.
When Toby barked again, Sakura laughed. Some ten minutes later, she finished her meal and excused herself to freshen up. Alone in the bathroom, she stripped herself naked and took a long, hot bath, Toby sitting there waiting patiently for her to finish.
She lay there, staring up at the ceiling, thinking about Mrs. Byrd and what she was going to do next. She also wondered what Daddy James had found out about the woman. She was about to doze off again when a knock came at the door, rousing her from her drowsiness.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“Sakura?” It was Sebastian’s voice. “Are you all right in there?”
He sounded worried, and Sakura frowned. Why wouldn’t I be all right? she wondered. She said, “I’m fine. I’m just having a bath.”
“Just wanted to make sure,” Conrad shouted from the other side.
“Take your time,” Tristan said.
“Don’t mind us.” Logan’s voice came next.
“Hurry up, Sakura,” Hayden muttered. “Dad wants to talk to you.”
Sakura perked up, splashing water everywhere. Toby barked and got to his feet as well.
“Don’t listen to him, Sakura,” Darcy said. “Take your time.”
Sakura reached out for a towel and wondered if all seven of them were at the door. No, wait. Nicolas. She hadn’t heard his voice so he couldn’t be out there right now with his brothers.
But she was wrong. Nicolas said, “Sakura. Lady Haruka phoned. She was asking how you are. She’s on her way to see you now.”
“What?” Sakura shrieked. “Please don’t tell her to come. It’s so inconvenient. For her, I mean. I’m not that important for her to worry so much about me.”
“Well,” he said, “she’s coming regardless.”
Sakura sighed. “All right. All right. I’m getting ready. Be out in a moment.”