Chapter 3 I Take the Literal High Ground #2
“Hey, Bridge. Why didn’t you guys wait for us?
” My much taller sister, Megan, walked in, followed by her even taller husband carrying their baby, and finally, her two other kids ran in.
With barely a hug and kiss for their grandma, they beelined for the backyard swing set my dad had built for us girls and meticulously maintained over the years.
“You weren’t here. I was.” I clambered down and put away the stool. “Why are you so late? I figured you’d already be eating. I got stuck at—”
“Work. We all know.” She huffed. “We figured if we showed up an hour late, we’d get here the same time as you.”
“Ouch,” I said.
“Take it in the loving way it was intended. We didn’t want you to miss out.” Megan hugged me for an extra beat. “Congrats on the promotion. Such great news.”
“Thank you.”
“What are we having for dinner?” My eight-year-old niece, Ashlyn, ran in, trailed by her mother, my next-youngest sister, Denise.
“Why do you always lead with your stomach?” Mom hugged Ashlyn.
“Because I’m always hungry.”
“It’s bangers and mash.” My mother opened the oven.
“Mmm,” I hummed as I peeked over her shoulder.
Ashlyn turned and hugged my ribs. “Aunt Bridget! You’re here!”
I squeezed her back. “I wouldn’t miss seeing you, Ashlyn.
” I didn’t have a favorite nibling, but if I did, it would be Ashlyn.
She was tiny, like me, and she had big dreams. She wanted to be a doctor and an astronaut like Jonny Kim.
I told her anything was possible if she worked hard enough.
She collected gold stars at school and was the only member of my family who didn’t give me a hard time about my long hours.
“Mom said you got a new job.” Her eyes shone with pride.
“Right!” Denise patted my back. “Way to go, Bridge. Maybe someday I’ll make principal, but CEO is next-level.”
“Thanks.” I hugged her. “I’m so excited.” And nervous, I didn’t say. They didn’t need to hear about my troubles with Cole.
“You’re the most important person at the company now,” Ashlyn said.
“Everyone at the company is important,” I gently corrected her. “But my co-CEO and I are the ones who make the big decisions. Well, with the approval of the board.”
Ashlyn crinkled her nose. “The board?”
“They’re my bosses,” I said. “And their bosses are the shareholders. Those are people like your moms, and Grandma and Grandpa, who invest money in the company.”
“We don’t invest in your company.” Denise plucked a slice of cheese off the charcuterie board on the counter.
I gasped. “Why not?”
She snorted. “It’s, like, one of the least diverse technology companies out there. It’s been all white dudes at the top until you. Hello, diversity of thought, anyone?”
“Corporations are soulless,” Mom said. “They were so cruel to your poor father.”
“I know, Mom,” I said. “I’m advocating for both diversity and compassion at Apex.”
“We’ll see, honey.” Mom patted my shoulder. “Denise, how’s Yve doing?”
“She’s okay.” But my bold sister’s voice wobbled. It was no secret that she hated when her wife was deployed. “She finally got the package we sent, and she shared it with her unit.”
“I hope it’s a comfort,” Mom said. “She’ll be home for Christmas, and that’s less than two months away.”
Denise nodded and absently stroked Ashlyn’s dark hair.
Mom asked, “Where are the boys?”
“With their cousins.” Denise went to the back door and shouted, “Boys! Move it! Oh, here’s Ciara. And Trish. But I don’t see Rudy.”
Ciara, our youngest sister, came in gripping Trish’s hand. They were the closest of all of us in age at twelve months apart, and they’d always been tight. After they’d gotten hugs all around, Mom asked, “Rudy couldn’t make it tonight?”
Spots of pink appeared on Trish’s pale cheeks. “No. He, um…we split up.”
With a whisper, Denise sent Ashlyn off to play with her cousins.
When we had the kitchen to ourselves, my sisters’ murmurs weren’t as shocked as you’d expect.
No one had liked Rudy, not when they’d started dating in high school, and not when they’d gotten married right out of college.
He was a teacher, like Denise, but in high school, and he thought he was the smartest guy in every room.
He constantly dismissed Trish, disparaging everything from her intelligence to her wardrobe.
But she never fought back because she actually loved the guy.
We’d all clenched our teeth and stayed silent.
Mom pulled Trish close. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Are you all right?”
“I will be,” she said, dabbing her fingertips against the purplish skin under her eyes. Her lower lip trembled, and I knew there was something else. But I said nothing until my sisters had all given her their words and touches of comfort and started carrying dishes into the dining room.
“Be right back.” I pulled Trish into the first bedroom upstairs.
It was the one she and Ciara shared while we were all still living here.
Mom and Dad had taken down their old posters of One Direction and the Jonas Brothers, but the twin beds remained for our nieces and nephews to spend the night.
I sat on Trish’s old bed and pulled her down next to me.
“What’s the news that’s so bad you wouldn’t share it before? ”
“I…I was going to call you this week. I was the one who left. Rudy’s still in the house.” She winced. “Sorry about that.”
Now I wished I hadn’t caved to their insistence to put both their names on the promissory note I’d drafted when I’d loaned them money for the house and not just hers.
But I smiled and said, “Don’t worry about it.
I’m sure your divorce lawyer will get it back for you.
In fact, I’ll give you my friend Justine’s number.
She’s fantastic.” When Trish pursed her lips, I had a horrifying thought. “Unless you’re not getting divorced?”
She huffed. “I’m not that nuts. Or that Catholic. No, I’m worried about the house. I don’t think I can cover the mortgage payment on my own. I’m hoping to get a promotion to senior librarian, but…”
“We’ll draw up new terms,” I said. “Whatever you can afford. I don’t need the money now.” I’d sunk a fair amount of my savings into my sister’s home. With what the library paid her, I wouldn’t get it back anytime soon, but she was family.
“Thank you. But there’s one more complication.” She sucked in a deep breath. “It’s early, but I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, shit.” I’d never had kids myself, but I’d seen enough of Denise’s and Megan’s experiences to know babies were expensive and difficult to manage on your own.
Trish wanted kids, and although she wasn’t Catholic enough to stay in an emotionally abusive marriage, I knew she’d never terminate a pregnancy.
“Well, Justine can handle that too. She’ll get Rudy to pay child support.
We can pause your mortgage payments until you figure everything out.
” There went next year’s vacation, but I’d never refuse my family anything.
“Thank you.” Her chin trembled again. “You’re the best.”
I was glad they’d come to me for their house loan.
After what happened when our dad lost his job when we were kids, I’d sworn that once I was old enough to work, I’d support my family whenever they needed it.
No one would take away what we’d clawed back.
A bank wouldn’t give my sister slack, and she’d be out of her house with a baby to support. A baby.
“Congratulations, by the way.” I clasped her hand.
“Thank you. I think. It’s a lot to process.”
“You’ll make it through. Remember, we’re all here for you.”
She burst into tears, and I pulled her close, glad I’d avoided saddling myself with a husband and instead focused on my career so I could provide this support to my family. I vowed not to let Cole Campion wrest that ability away from me.