Page 44 of By the Letter

I let out a humorless laugh. “You think I like cleaning up after a cat who wants to eat my face?”

Nate laughed. “Yeah, sounds like you’re developing a real deep understanding.”

Ben got serious—a rarity for him. “I don’t think you are especially into that aspect, but I know you, Ro. You’re acaretaker. The last few weeks, you’ve been in your element coming up with ways to take care of Shira. I know you as well as I know myself. You can’t be happy at having that taken away.”

I let out a heavy sigh. This was the reason my gut had been so damn unsettled today. I’d been relegated to the outside, and that wasn’t where I wanted to be. I wasn’t carrying the baby, but I needed to be an active participant, and going to doctor appointments every few weeks wasn’t enough.

“You’re right.” I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing the heel of my hand into my socket to relieve some tension. “She doesn’t need my help, though. And now she’ll be on the other side of the city, making it harder than it should be to stop by. Naturally, that has my mind spinning to when he’s here and having to figure out how to carve out time to be with my son. Christ—” I gnashed my molars to keep myself from spinning out. I wasn’t much of an anxious person, but control was important to me, and I had less than none in this situation.

“No need to get your panties in a bunch,” Ben pronounced. “Move closer to her.”

I dropped my hand and stared at him. “That’s ludicrous.”

“Not really,” Nate stated, giving me pause. He was the most practical of my brothers. “It makes sense, honestly.”

I swiveled my head between them, stopping on Ben. “I sense ulterior motives. Do you want me out of this place so you can live here on your own?”

He raised both hands. “Nah, not me. Chances are, I’ll follow you wherever you go. You know I don’t like living alone.”

My eyes narrowed. “And if you’re not invited?”

He chuckled. “Have I ever needed an invitation?”

I shook my head. “This is crazy. I can’t just move. I don’t know why we’re talking about it. I have a life here. I’m close to my offices…no. Out of the question.”

Nate tsked. “Never say never, Ro.”

Moving wouldn’t be happening. As for the rest? I’d have to figure it out. Sitting on my hands, however, wasn’t an option for me. Shira would be getting my help, whether she liked it or not.

Chapter Sixteen

Shira

I waved goodbye tothe couple who lived in the house next door as they made their way down my porch steps. Bev and Donnie had been in their place since the seventies. They were grandparents now and had told me all about their grandkids over the plate of cookies they’d brought over to welcome me to the neighborhood. They’d also offered their babysitting services when I’d told them about Beanie.

“Wow. Those two haven’t said more than a handful of words to me since I moved in,” Bea said dryly.

Clara bumped her with her shoulder. “Think that could have anything to do with your resting murder face?”

Bea put her hands on her hips like she was going to object, then she took a breath and nodded. “You know, you’re probablyright. And as much as I like cookies, they’re not worth having to listen to the story of Billy’s first day of kindergarten in slo-mo.”

I crinkled my nose at her. “They were sweet.”

“Maybe. But even you can admit they talkedsooo slow.”

Clara snorted. “They did take their time getting to the point, didn’t they?”

The three of us took seats around the mid-century modern table Bea and I had found at an antique store, which looked stunning in my new dining room. Clara’s boyfriend, Jake, and his brother, Jeremy, were putting together my bed upstairs. Nellie, Clara’s daughter, was up there with themassisting. From the sound of it, she was spending most of the time running circles in the two empty bedrooms. Everyone had forbidden me from even attempting to help, which was fine with me. I wasn’t handy in any way, and moving had taken it all out of me.

“I should buy a toolbox,” I mused.

My new home had been built in the late 1800s, and I loved every bit of the creaking wood floors and exposed brick walls. I’d never dared to conjure up what my dream house would look like, but now that I was here, I decided this was it. It wasn’t overly large, but that suited me. I didn’t need space or ostentatious fixtures and furniture. Cozy comfort was more my style I was learning.

“If you need help with anything, Jake will be glad to do it,” Clara offered. “He hasn’t met something he’s been unable to fix yet.”

Bea fluffed her blue waves. “As a woman who’s fully independent of the male race, I have a fully stocked toolbox and would be happy to lend you what you need. I learned how to use it all from a class I took at the hardware store.”

Clara laughed. “I’m happy to be dependent on Jake to figure out plumbing and electrical issues. I have plenty of talents and skills—none of which lie in that department.”

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