Page 10 of Just My Fake Husband

But good resources for persons with disabilities are hard to come by.

I’ve tried. I make a good wage, I really do, but my parents had zero extra dollars when they passed. I sank to the pantry floor and sobbed my eyes out when I discovered how much Skye’s various therapies cost. Thankfully, she gets disability and our parents’ social security benefits checks. We’ve made it work, barely, but getting her into Caring Souls can’t happen yet.

When I don’t respond, Jana taps my hand, gives it a little shake and smiles. “So what are you going to do?”

I clear my throat. “Well, obviously, move. But beyond that, I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. You and Skye are coming to live with us.”

“For the hundred time, I’m not crashing your honeymoon pad! I’ll figure it out. There are some apartments here in town. Something will become available, eventually.” Real estate in Longdale is tricky. More demand than supply, especially now that Tate International has brought so much to the town. Longdale is growing and feeling those growing pains.

“If we had an extra bedroom, I’d hog tie you and throw you over my shoulder and take you in that way. But as we only have two very comfy sofas for you to sleep on, I won’t force you. Still . . . the offer stands.”

“Thanks for wanting to hog tie me, I guess? And thanks for the offer.” My focus on Skye has eased up as I’ve thought about the magnitude of everything going on. But then I notice my sister’s no longer in the backyard.

I spring from the patio chair so quickly I bang my knee on the table. “Skye?” I dart around the side of the house just as the gate bangs shut.

When I fling open the gate and reach her near the middle of the front yard, she wiggles out of my grasp with a laugh.

“You can’t go in the front by yourself, Skye.”

“But Lunch Lady Liz is with me,” Skye insists.

“She’s not very responsible,” I counter. I corral the dog and get her to go back through the gate and Skye follows, lying down under the willow and letting Lunch Lady Liz settle on her stomach.

I relax back down on my chair with a yawn.

“I thought you put a lock on the gate,” Jana says.

“I did. She promptly figured out how to open it. She’s too smart for her own good.”

“Agreed. So with the sale of the house, you’ll have enough for Caring Souls, right? And an apartment for you?”

“Possibly. But I still want to keep Skye’s music and art classes going, and that’s not cheap. And all her therapies.” Our insurance covers some of it. But there are things they deem “elective” that I have to cover.

“You’re always doing things for other people. What about what’s best for you?”

“What do you mean? What’s best for Skye is best for me. It’s the same thing.”

“Not always, River.” Jana shakes her head. It’s a discussion we’ve had many times. She doesn’t get how it feels to be responsible for your sibling.

“I keep hoping Skye will magically change her mind and decide she doesn’t even want to go to Caring Souls,” I say.

Jana makes a humming sound and rests her chin in her hands. “You know that’s not happening.”

“I know. But the second anything happens there, I’m pulling her out. I’ll start working from home if I have to.”

“You gotta get a home first.” Jana winces when I do. “Sorry to be so blunt, but Caring Souls is going to be amazing for your sister.”

“I only agreed to try to figure it out since there doesn’t seem to be any other option.” I look over at Skye again. She’s now giving Lunch Lady Liz a belly rub.

She’s been going to Caring Souls’ two evenings a week for years and has friends there. A van transports her, and it’s been great. Still, it’s going to be a rough transition. And having her live there full-time feels impossible, and irresponsible of me.

Same with selling the house. I didn’t think it would ever come to this.

“I give Skye a week, tops, before she begs me to bring her home.” Yep. It’s inevitable, and I’m not going to mind one bit.

Skye stands up from the grass and carries Lunch Lady Liz in her arms, holding her around her middle as she shuffles over to sit with us in the shade. We’ve had to reduce her physical therapy to just twice a month, for financial reasons, so her limp is back with a vengeance. It’s hard to watch your sister regress right in front of your eyes.

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