Chapter 7 #2
“And that makes you even more special.” I swallowed hard, already steeling myself for whatever Ethan needed from me. “How about you go down the street to Evie’s? Tell her I sent you. See if she’ll give you a croissant or something.”
“Okay,” she said excitedly.
Ethan stepped aside as she rushed out of the shop. Part of me was tempted to text Evie and give her a heads up, but I knew she didn’t need one.
I wasn’t sure what I’d do without Avery and Evie.
We’d been friends since kindergarten and had been damn near inseparable since then, aside from when Avery went to college.
They were my ride or dies. They always had my back.
And that included stepping into an auntie role for Laura as I helped my brother navigate life as a single dad.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I went to a meeting last night. I have therapy tomorrow, and it always leaves me drained after. I’m trying, I just . . .”
He couldn’t be a parent. Not while he was putting himself back together.
“I know I’m the worst brother in the world—”
“Stop,” I said firmly, holding up my hand. “You know it’s not that. I’m glad you’re doing all of these things. I just . . . I just have to figure out how to change my weekend to account for her. I wish I would have had a heads up. I thought we talked about planning together more?”
“We did,” he said. “And I’m trying to get better. I swear I am, June. The therapy appointment tomorrow slipped my mind.”
“And you can’t take her to school in the morning?” I asked. “Or have her at home for the rest of the day? It’s Sunday. What are you even doing today?”
He raked his fingers through his sandy brown hair. “I picked up an extra shift at the store last minute.”
Which meant this was intentional.
“I just . . . I need a break. I’m not cut out to be a dad.”
“Well, you’re the only one she has.” It was harsh.
I knew it was harsh. But, there were times that I felt like if I wasn’t tough on him, he wouldn’t pull himself together, and I’d be stuck picking everything up.
It was one thing when it was school or work when we were younger, another thing when it came to raising a whole other human being. “You’re doing better. I know you are.”
He swallowed hard. “I haven’t had a drink in thirty-three days.”
I didn’t tell him I’d been marking the days on my calendar too. “I’m proud of you. I really am.”
Ethan’s eyes softened with a grimace. “I’ll get there, June. For Laura. For you. For myself too.”
He wasn’t trying to guilt trip me. I knew that logically. And yet, guilt sank its claws into my gut. I caved.
“I’ll take her to school tomorrow. She can stay the night.” I offered. “But I need you to pick her up tomorrow night. September is for mums and I’m already running myself ragged. I have orders pouring in and I don’t even know how I’m going to fill them all.”
Ethan breathed out in relief. “Great. I’ll pick her up tomorrow.”
I knew he cared about me. I knew that. But I was certain he hadn’t heard a single word I’d said after I agreed I’d take Laura. “I need you to go through the Google Calendar and add all the meetings you’re going to, along with your therapy appointments. Please.”
“I’ll do that today,” he said firmly.
I really wanted to believe him. “Okay. Do you need help with anything else?”
“Nope,” he said. “I got it. I wish Mom was . . .”
“A decent human? A good grandmother? A good mother?”
He grimaced. “Yeah. I don’t trust her with Laura.”
“Good,” I quipped. I wouldn’t trust her with anything.
As shitty as it was, I was glad my brother finally saw that part of her.
For years, he was always babied, and I took the brunt of her dislike.
“I know I get annoyed sometimes, but you can always leave Laura with me. I’d rather my life be harder than for her to have to be around Mom. ”
“I know.” He cracked a smile, and for a second, I saw my brother. “She’s an old witch at this point.”
“One that hates me.”
“Hey, I think I’ve made my way onto her shit list. I’m not exactly the football star son she dreamed I’d become.”
“And I’m not the cheerleader she wished for.”
At that, we both smiled. Although we’d had problems over the last few years, that was one thing we could always agree on. Our mother was one of the worst mothers on the planet, and we both rather run ourselves into the ground before asking for her help. Not that she would ever help us, anyway.
“All right,” he sighed. “Thank you, June. You’re the best, as always.”
“I know I am.”
The door chimed and Laura appeared with a cup of coffee for me and remnants of chocolate on her mouth from what was undoubtedly a donut, not a croissant.
Ethan snorted and wiped it away with his hand, kissing the top of her head. “Aunt June is having you over tonight. I’ll pick you up tomorrow after school.”
“Okay,” she said with a firm nod.
He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a big hug, holding onto her until she squirmed out of his grip.
“Too much!” she squealed, laughing as he peppered more kisses on her face.
I smiled as he finally released her and she delivered my cup of coffee to the counter.
“I love you,” he said. “Love you both. I’ll see you later.”
“We love you,” she said.
“We do,” I agreed.
Ethan gave us one last look then forced a tired smile, heading out of the shop. I picked up my cup of coffee and took a long sip as I watched him go.
Just a couple months ago, I’d been so certain that things weren’t going to be okay.
In my head, I’d started planning for the worst case scenario—which would be me officially becoming Laura’s guardian.
At no point in my life had I ever wanted to be a mother, but I would step into that role for Laura if I had to. In a lot of ways, I already had.
But then Ethan called me and told me he’d found a therapist. He was going to put in the work to change. I still wasn’t sure exactly what made him decide to sign up, but since then, he’d made the effort.
That’s all I really needed to see. Because seeing him try helped me to justify doing whatever I could to help out.
Laura gave me a toothy grin. “Can I try your coffee?”
“Nope,” I snorted. “Absolutely not. We’re grabbing some fresh flowers for the hotel lobby, then I’m putting you to work.”
“Doing what?”
“Building boxes for orders.”
“Nooooo. I want to do something more fun. Like cutting ribbons.”
I hesitated. She was old enough to use scissors, yes. But mine were especially sharp.
“Pleaseeee.”
She gave me her best pleading smile, and dammit. The missing tooth did me in.
“Fine,” I sighed.
“Yay! Do I get paid?”
I fought the urge to laugh. “You get paid in pizza. How about that?”
“Yes! Can we get the one with pineapple on it?”
Gross. Pineapple on pizza was my least favorite.
I took a long sip of my coffee, praying the caffeine would get me through the rest of my Sunday. “Sure. If that’s what you want. Let’s get going.”