Page 85 of Merry Little Midlife Matchmaker

“Hi,” I replied.

“You, uh, good?”

I arched a brow. “I’m fine. Just running a bath.”

Aaron cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “You mind if I come in for a few minutes? I won’t be long, I promise.”

Last time I’d spoken to my brother, he’d yelled at me in front of our entire family. I would be well within my rights to slam the door in his face.

But as much as I missed my kids, I also missed my family. Usually, the days between Christmas and New Year’s would be spent lounging at my parents’ or brothers’ houses. Or having them here to fill the house with noise and laughter. I’d needed the time to myself—and I’d enjoyed it—but I wasn’t sure it was how I wanted to live. Not forever. There had to be a way to find a middle ground, if the rest of them were willing.

So, I opened the door wider and let him in.

Wrapped in my brand new, extra-fluffy bathrobe, I led Aaron to the living room and took a seat on the couch. He grabbed the seat on the far end of the sofa and leaned his elbows on his knees. I glanced at his profile, noting the smudges under his eyes and the grim line of his jaw.

“Sean came to see me yesterday,” he said.

“Ah.”

“We talked.”

“That’s good.”

Aaron looked over at me, then away. He gulped. “He, uh, mentioned you.”

Curiosity prickled, and I batted it back. I’d been very clear with Sean about what I wanted from him, and it hadn’t changed: nothing. I might want my kids at home and a mended relationship with my family, but I wasn’t naive enough to think that I’d find the perfect man to cherish me as well.

I could find balance in my life without giving my freedom to yet another man who wouldn’t have my back.

“I hadn’t realized that the two of you were…together.”

“We’re not,” I told him.

Aaron nodded. “Right. Right.” He spun his wedding ring around his finger and cleared his throat. “We missed you this week,” he blurted.

It was hard not to feel bitter. They missed me watching their kids while they enjoyed themselves, probably. They missed me doing all the dishes after dinner so they wouldn’t have to.

When I said nothing, Aaron let out a long sigh. “Lizzie, I’m sorry.”

Blinking, I turned to look at him. “For what?”

He spread his arms, looking helpless. “Where do I start? I haven’t—” He exhaled loudly. “I haven’t been a good brother to you. I’ve—I’ve walked all over you, and I didn’t even realize I was doing it.”

I sat there, stiff as a board, trying to understand what, exactly, my brother meant. Finally, I replied, “Yes. You have.”

“And I’m not the only one.”

“No,” I agreed.

“I’ve relied on you for babysitting without even thinking about whether you’d want to do it. I thought—Itold myselfyou loved kids and enjoyed it.”

“My life has revolved around kids for a long time,” I said. “I probably didn’t help myself.”

“But what option did you have?” Aaron looked at me, brows arched. “Sean told me we’ve been using you, and—God, it hurt when he said that. I didn’t want it to be true. But then I thought about everything you do… And then Mom told me you weren’t going to host New Year’s this year, and…”

“And?”

“And I’m sorry, Lizzie.”

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