Page 106 of Loud Unspoken Memories

“Tequila,” I say. “I’m a big fan.”

Lucas slaps the bar happily then turns to the bartender. “Two shots of Don Julio 1942 please.”

The bartender unlocks a cabinet, retrieves the tall brown bottle, and pours us each a shot.

Lucas raises his glass. “I’ll email you the details of our offer on Monday.”

“Monday?” I put down the glass. “Lucas, I have a lot going on right now. I just became a full-time single mom. I’ve been asked to take care of my ex’s things down in Orlando since his widow doesn’t want to deal with it. My plate is about to be pretty full, and it’s a lot to process. I’m not sure I’d be any good working for anyone right now.”

He shrugs nonchalantly, like nothing I said matters whatsoever. “I’ll wait a week or two then. Give you time to acclimate to your new life. But just so you know, whatever we offer—you should ask for more.”

I smile, clink my glass to his, and take a shot of the best tequila that has ever crossed these lips.

~ ~ ~

When I wake up, I’m disoriented. I’ve been so many different places over the past few weeks, it takes me a minute to recognize where I am.

My eyes come to rest on a Montana family photo on the desk and my heart flutters. Then it falls when reality assures me I’ll never be in a picture like that one.

Turning over, I reach out and discover the other side of the bed is empty. “Charlie?”

When I don’t get a response, I pull on a hoodie and pad out to the living room. It’s not long before I hear Charlie’s laughter. I make a right turn and head for the kitchen.

Standing in the doorway, I like what I see. Charlie is sitting on a barstool ‘helping’ Sarah make breakfast. He’s making more of a mess of it than actually providing help, but Sarah doesn’t seem to mind in the least.

“Mommy!” he calls out when he notices me. “Pancakes and eggs.”

“Yummy. I can’t wait.” I walk to the counter. “How can I help?”

“Charlie and I have everything covered.” She nods to another long counter at the other side of the gigantic kitchen. “There’s fresh coffee.”

“Perfect.”

I pour myself a cup then top off Sarah’s. I sit on the barstool next to Charlie and watch, holding back tears because he never got to do such things with my mother. Heck,Inever got to do such things with my mother. And Charles’s mom—a widow now—is always traveling. It’s a rare occasion when Charlie sees her and, as such, he never remembers who she is. It’s always made me so sad that my son hasn’t grown up with a big family. I’ve always wished for him to have more than I had. But maybe it’s just not going to happen.

A noise behind me has me turning.

Asher is coming down the back staircase. The one I know is the rear entrance to the apartment over the garage.

“Good morning, everyone,” he says, reaching into a bowl of blueberries then popping one into his mouth. “We should try to hit the road by nine if we want to make up for lost time.”

I’m mortified that he’s doing the walk of shame right here in front of Sarah.

“Of course,” I say. “I’ll save you some breakfast if you want to go shower.”

I shoot him a hard stare. The last thing Allie’s mother needs is to eat breakfast with a guy who smells like sex after being with her one and only daughter.

He ruffles Charlie’s hair then shoots me a half-smile over his shoulder on his way out.

“It seems your brother and my daughter got along quite well last night,” Sarah says, not even missing a beat cracking eggs into a bowl.

I cover my face, embarrassed to high heaven. “Sarah, I’m so sorry you had to see that. I apologize on behalf of my insensitive brother. He had no right to disrespect you in your own home.”

“It’s okay, Marti. Allie is a grown woman. It’s her house, too. And she’s got a good head on her shoulders, which means your brother must be a decent man.”

“He is. In fact it’s very unlike him to—” My eyes flit to the back stairway.

She chuckles. “As far as I know, it’s very unlike my daughter to—” She swings a hand at the ceiling. “I have to say I see the appeal. He’s quite charming.”

---