Page 15 of Pretty Heartache

I weave my way back to my brother Lennon’s office. His longtime secretary Olivia sits behind her large, oak desk, tapping away on her computer.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Harding.”

“Is it afternoon?” I ask her, flicking my wrist to eye my watch.

“Well…” Olivia giggles and shrugs. “It’s five minutes after noon, so I consider it afternoon.”

“Oh, you scared me.” I place my hand on my chest, worried I’ve wasted my day.

“Sorry.” She winces.

“Do you mind telling Lennon I’m here? He’s expecting me.”

“Of course.” Olivia presses her finger to the intercom, and Lennon is quick to respond, telling me to head back to his office.

I push through the large, mahogany door, then allow it to shut behind me.

“Uncle Micah!” My eight-year-old niece Lucy comes running over to me, her long, brown, curling pigtails bouncing with every step. She quickly wraps herself around my waist.

“Shouldn’t you be in school?” I tease.

“Daddy picked me up early because I have to get a filling today.” She unravels one arm from around my waist longenough to pull back her cheek, showing me the left side of her mouth. “Right here.”

I laugh.

She squeezes me again and rests her chin on my stomach before looking up with the largest grin. “I asked Daddy if I could have a telescope, and he said I’d have to wait for my birthday, but my birthday isn’t until after science camp this summer, so there’s no way I can get enough research done in time. I’ll be way behind.”

I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm seeing me and the way she talks a mile a minute without taking in a single breath. The growing dimples in her cheeks and the light in her eyes temporarily fill the gaping hole I have in my soul.

“Woah.” I dip my eyebrows and dart my narrowed eyes to my brother sitting behind his desk. “You won’t get her a telescope? It’s educational.”

“That’s what I said,” Lucy whines. Her arms are still wrapped around me, her hands grasping onto my gray blazer.

“Lucy!” Lennon scolds, narrowing his eyes. “You can’t run to your uncle every time you feel like you aren’t getting what you want. It doesn’t work that way. Your mother and I have already had this conversation with you. Science camp doesn’t work with our schedule. We’ll be gone most of the summer.”

“I know.” She pouts, pulling away from me. “Sorry, Daddy. I was just hoping Uncle Micah would be able to help.”

“Hey, Luce,” I say, hooking my fingers under her chin. “You know I’m always here to help with whatever you need.” I give her a wink and nod toward Lennon. It causes my head to pound again, but I ignore it. “I’ll see what I can do. I promise. Okay?”

She claps her hands together and points them to her chin. She gives me another large toothy grin, even though half her teeth are missing. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She wrapsher arms around me one more time. “You know you’re my favorite uncle, right?”

I laugh. “Duh! Of course, I am.” I lean down and press my finger to my lips. “But it’s our little secret, right?”

My other brother Jude is just as amazing of an uncle to Lucy, and I’ve heard her say the same thing to him multiple times when she thinks I haven’t been able to hear, but I love these moments with her.

“Yep.” She smacks her lips and nods enthusiastically.

“Hey, Lucy, girl.” Lennon moves around his desk and stands beside his daughter. “Do you mind sitting with Olivia for a few minutes while I talk to your favorite uncle? Your mom shouldn’t be much longer. She’s on her way to pick you up to take you to your dentist appointment.”

“Sure.” She walks over to the chair in the far corner and grabs her pink bag. “Love you, Daddy. Love you, Uncle Micah.”

We both tell her we love her, too, and wait for the door to shut.

When I’m alone with Lennon, I blow out a heavy breath and sink into the chair across from his desk. I hang my head back and run an exhausted hand down my face. Feeling Lennon move around the room, I sit up and watch him return to his chair behind his desk, across from me.

“You shouldn’t make her promises you can’t keep,” he mutters, sifting through the paperwork on his desk.

“I didn’t.” I cross my leg and rest my ankle on my knee.

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