31. Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Elijah
T he meeting with Bex’s parents didn’t go as she thought it would. To say the least. While she’s assured me her dad’s not going to do anything to jeopardize my job, I need a backup plan.
Teaching was never my goal; it was never what I intended to do with my life. It was something that sort of fell in my lap. Something I was able to do with my skillset that allowed me the time home with my sisters.
Maybe it’s time to move on.
The hard part is I know what I want to do, but I’m not sure my sisters will be as accepting of the idea as they were of Bex.
I send a message to the group chat, asking them all to meet me on Thursday morning at six at the café. Bex will have no idea I’m going because she sleeps in her room Wednesday nights, thanks to an early Thursday class that she doesn’t want to wake me for. My first class of the day isn’t until eleven.
My only caveat was no brothers-in-law. I love them, and they’re great for their respective sisters, but this needs to be a Baker-family-only meeting. The fact that I even made this request has me thinking the sisters know it’s something serious.
Which is why I’m not surprised to find them huddled around a table when I get to the café, at five fifty-five. I can’t help but laugh. Part of me expected this.
The second I walk through the door, whatever conversation they were having ceases. I’d bet money they were talking about what I gathered them for. Did I get Bex pregnant? Am I sick? Is there something going on from the hostage situation?
They’d be wrong on all fronts.
With a smile, I flop into the one empty seat, noting my coffee sitting in front of me, still piping. They knew I wouldn't be late.
I look around the circle at my sisters, concern pulling at all their faces. “Sheesh, would you three lighten up? Who’s dying?”
“Not funny. When was the last time you asked to see all of us at one time and was specific about who was around and who wasn’t?” Mazie looks at me intently, trying to see behind my mask.
One shoulder tips up. “Can’t I just ask for a time to see my sisters and only my sisters?”
“Eli.” Just the way Liv says my name, with the tiniest hint of heartache, is enough to weaken my defenses.
With a heavy sigh, I lower my gaze to my cup, holding it between both hands. “So, meeting Bex’s parents didn’t exactly go as either one of us were hoping it would. They were very much not at all okay with us dating, seeing the age gap and the nature of our roles. Her dad even threatened to have me fired.” I don’t have to look up to feel them bristling around me.
“Which made me think about a few things. Bex is pretty sure my job isn’t actually in jeopardy, since she told her dad she'd never speak with him again if he did that. And she simply doesn’t think it’s something he would actually do anyway. But I feel like I need a backup plan.” This is the part where I look at them. “Or more so, maybe it’s time for me to move on from teaching.”
It’s a little eerie how little they give away. And I can read all of them like a book. They’ve either been practicing their faces, or I’m out of touch.
“What are you thinking?” There’s true curiosity in Alina’s tone as she pulls her coffee to her lips.
Confusion swirls through my mind. “Uh, I was considering going back to school. Finishing out the degree I started or maybe just something else.”
Then they exchange the look I’ve been expecting. Tight lips, sad eyes.
“You know, never mind, it was just a thoug—”
Mazie puts her hand on mine to stop me. “Eli. You’re misunderstanding the look.”
My brow furrows, and I look at all three of them, genuinely curious as to what’s going on right now.
Alina and Liv both nod subtly at Mazie, encouraging her to continue.
“A little while after we opened Three Sticks, around when it started to turn a profit, so roughly a year and a half to two years in, we started saving money. It started as just a bit here and there, but as we grew, it became a steady five percent of every paycheck from each of us.”
“But…that’s…”
“A lot of money. Yeah. And you know what it is?”
I shake my head because I have no clue what they could possibly be saving for.
“It’s our Eli fund.” I turn to Liv after her quiet voice pulls me from Mazie.
“What?”
“See, at one point, we realized that you were going to want to take back all you’ve given up. If not to finish out school the way you intended, then to, at the very least, travel the world. To do something that was for you. So we started saving.” Alina’s voice wavers.
“And he’d probably kill me for telling you this, but Jay matched it. Every cent.”
I fall back against my chair and run a hand through my hair. Stunned doesn’t even cover the way I feel.
“But. Why?” Of all people, I’m by far the least deserving of such generosity.
“Eli, you gave up everything for us when Mom and Dad died. Literally everything. Your present, your future, your dreams. For us . And you’ve never tried to regain what you lost. I mean, hell, you gave us part of your inheritance to help us open this place.” Mazie opens her arms wide, and I take a look around the café. The one my sisters built from nothing.
“You have always been there for us. Every step of the way, every second, every turn. Big steps and small, life-altering events and tiny hiccups. We decided years ago that, when the time came, we wanted to be there for you in the same way.”
I’m not a crier. I cried once when Mom and Dad died and got it out of my system. But right now, as I look around at my sisters, my eyes mist.
“Are you sure about this? It means I’m leaving the area.”
“As much as we’re going to miss you, your home is always going to be here, Eli. Whether you come home from time-to-time, or end up back here someday, we want you happy. Wherever that may take you.” Liv says it with a hint of deep understanding. And when I say nothing, she continues. “Go back to MIT. Go to Harvard or Yale or Stanford. Hell, even go all the way to Oxford because, not only are you smart enough, but you’re worth it.”
“You always took chances on us, put us first. Now we want to return that favor, even though we can never truly do that.” Alina has her hands clasped against her chest.
“I…just…” Speechless. I’m not a man usually rendered speechless. Especially around my sisters. Yet here I am. “Thank you.”
“The only condition is that you have to come back to visit regularly. School breaks, holidays. The like.” Mazie points at me to make sure I understand her. But she already knows I’ll come back every chance I get.
“And just so you know, there’s enough funds there to cover at least three years of school. And living expenses, though not necessarily for all three years, but at least the first one or two. That way, you don’t have to find a job and can just focus on being a student again.” Liv's tenderness reaches to my soul.
I take a minute to look at her, really see my sister. While part of me is wondering how I could ever leave my babiest sister, how I could ever not be right here for her, I realize how grown she truly is. Not only is she a successful businesswoman, but she’s happily married, and has an amazing daughter and another on the way. She’s not a kid anymore, and while she’ll always be my youngest sister, she’s gone through the most growth of all of us.
“I… I just have one question.” My gaze lifts to Alina’s light voice. Her bottom lip is between her teeth, and she looks at Liv and Mazie before refocusing on me. “What about Bex?”
A heavy sigh pulls from my chest, and I look at my now cold coffee. None of us took more than a sip or two.
“That’s another important question. I don’t know.” I’ve thought it over for days and haven’t landed anywhere.
“Do you want her to go with you?”
“Of course I do. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I didn’t even think it was possible for me. And while the circumstances of how we met and the taboo nature of our relationship, not to mention the age difference, I’m really happy and I want to be with her.” It’s a lot to confess and I’ve never spoken so honestly and openly with my sisters. Maybe because there’s never been a reason to.
“Ask her to go with you.” Liv lays it flat out.
“Is that fair? To ask her to give up everything and alter the course she’s set for herself, just to come with me so that I can achieve some sort of dream? What about her dreams?”
“At the very least, you need to bring it up to her. Let her choose what she’s willing to give up or not. If you don’t ask, you’re taking away one of her options and her ability to decide for herself.” Sometimes I hate that Liv’s so smart. She was never book smart, not like I am, though she did well enough. But she’s always seen the world through a different lens.
“You’re right. I’ll tell her.” Looking around, I see their eyes filling with tears all over again. “This isn’t goodbye, guys. I’ll be finishing out the semester, if not the year. I haven’t even applied anywhere yet.” The thought of reapplying to college, at thirty-three, intimidates the crap out of me.
“We’re just going to miss you. At Sunday dinners, or the random phone calls we make to get you to come see us. When you surprise us and come into the café.” Liv’s voice breaks as she turns away and swipes at her cheek.
“I will visit as much as I can. I have a niece and a nephew and a somebody else on the way that need to know their very coolest uncle.” I try to make the conversation lighter, easier.
“Dinner. This Sunday. No more skipping out. Bring Bex if you want.” Mazie puts her foot down, and I won’t be able to get out of it. Though, at this point, I don’t want to. And not just because I can bring Bex, but because I’m going to miss them all so much.
“Absolutely. And at least a few weekday surprise visits. We’ll always be in touch; I’ll just be a little further than a half hour away.”
All three of them nod, and I know it’s because they’ve lost the ability to speak without sobbing.
Tapping my hands against the table, I stand. “I’m going to get out of your hair now. I know you have to open and everything, and I should get back to prep for today’s classes and start looking into things.”
They stand at the same time, almost as if choreographed, and wrap their arms around me. It’s been a long time since I’ve held all three of them in my arms. They’re taller, older, more mature. But they’re still my baby sisters.
“I love you all. Very much. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
One of them sobs and I’m pretty sure it’s Alina. She and Mazie back away at roughly the same time. But Liv tightens her arms around my waist. There’s the undeniable bond she and I have. I’ve never known what makes it the way it is. Mazie and I are close, good friends like she and Alina are. But there’s some connection Liv and I have that keeps us closer.
With one more tight squeeze, she backs away. They’re acting like they’ll never see me again, but Sunday is just a few days away. And now I’m a little more inclined to come back with Bex for her Saturday shift and hang around for the day.
“Good luck with Bex.” Liv smiles before turning away, the three of them huddling behind the counter and wiping at their eyes.
I leave them like that, leaning on each other. It’s good practice for when I’m not around. They’re grown now, married with children, and have always valued the support of one another. But I’ve been there at the drop of a hat, been the fall back, the voice of reason, the one to settle disputes. It’s left a heavy weight on my chest, a never-ending feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. And now those are both lifted.
For the first time in years, it’s nice to not feel needed.