Page 111 of Between Us

“Hi, Grady.” I smile at my brother and hold Stella a little closer.

Noticing the gesture, he rolls his eyes and teases, “I’m not going to snatch her from you, weirdo.” I laugh, continuing to gaze down at her. “Since this one”—I catch Grady gesturing at me from the corner of my eye—“isn’t kind enough to do the honors, it’s nice to officially meet you.”

“Hey, it is nice.” They shake hands before Adrian turns to introduce himself to Arielle. “Arielle, right? It’s nice to meet you as well.”

Offering her hand, she gives him a small smile and nods. “You too.” Turning toward my mom, she asks, “Is it okay if I get settled?”

Looking up, I notice the uncomfortableness Arielle is trying her best to hide. She looks like she’s in pain. I’m about to open my mouth when my mom does.

“Oh, of course,mija,” my mom walks over and tentatively sets an arm on Arielle’s back. “Is everything okay? Was the drive fine?”

Truthfully, Arielle may not be my mom’s ideal future daughter-in-law, however the suspicious look she’s giving my brother tells me she’d beat him with achanclaif he hurt the mother of his child in any way.

She looks around embarrassed and Grady steps up to her side, laying a kiss on her temple. Quietly, though loud enough Adrian and I can hear, she admits, “I have a clogged duct, and ithurts.”

A tear slips down Arielle’s cheek and it’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever seen her.

“Oh, that’s the worst. Maybe worse than childbirth itself.” Arielle nods and chuckles, seemingly grateful to have an experienced mother around. Her family is from Manhattan, but I’m not sure how close she is with them. “I’ll tell Tim to pick up some cabbage on the way home and we’ll get you all fixed up.”

“Cabbage?” Grady asks incredulously.

“Si, tonto,”she answers, not turning to look at him, keeping her attention on the one in pain. “I’m sure you could use other things or a warm cloth, but my mom always told me boiled cabbage. Tim should be headed home soon. Why don’t you lay down for a little and I’ll get you some tea?”

“Yeah, okay,” Arielle agrees and looks around, her eyes settling on Stella. “We stopped so she could eat about an hour ago. She should be okay… but I can take her if you want…”

There’s a mix of guiltandrelief in Arielle’s tone. Like sheshouldtake her daughter even if maybe she just needs a break herself.

“I don’t mind holding her while you rest,” I insist.

“You go lay down and I’ll get you if Stella needs anything,” Grady promises next.

She looks around and I wonder if accepting help is as hard on Arielle as it is me. “A nap sounds nice,” she admits.

“Of course it does,” my mom laughs and wraps an arm around her shoulder. Guiding her down the hallway toward Grady’s room, my mom talks quietly to Arielle, asking what else she needs and if she’s experiencing any other pain since giving birth. The three of us watch until they turn the corner into the room and gently shut the door.

“I love that woman,” Grady says after a second.

Confused, Adrian asks, “Yourgirlfriend?”

I can’t help but snort at the innocent question. To Adrian, that should just be a given, except I know my brother.

“Uh, I meant my mom,” Grady answers, embarrassed, as we both laugh. After a second, he adds, “And yeah, of course also my girlfrie—er, Arielle.”

Squinting, I assess him for a minute.Maybehe doesn’t want to call the mother of his child something so adolescent, but again… Iknowmy brother.

When he sees me staring, he looks away and walks toward the coffee table. “Dad’s back into chess now that Adrian’s around I see,” he teases and picks up one of my rooks.

“Hey,” I step forward, trying not to jostle Stella, “Don’t touch that! We’re almost done with that game.”

He looks up surprised. “You?You are playing chess?”

“Yes, dick, I am,” I huff.

“Don’t cuss in front of my child,” he lectures, mostly with amusement.

“Oh, fuck off,” I tell him and walk backward so he can’t reach his daughter.

“Blake Carmen Miller,” my mom’s voice calls from the hallway. “Do not cuss at your brother, andespeciallynot in front of a child.”

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