Page 70 of Thinking It Over

“It’s happening.”Shock registered in my voice, the reality of the situation setting in. I was going to be collecting my nephew tomorrow and then heading back home with him. I was terrified. Put me in a hall filled with four hundred teenagers, and I handled it like the boss I was. A three-year-old, not so much. “Shit, what if he freaks out?” I said. “Of course he’s going to freak out. The poor kid doesn’t know me, yet I’m whisking him away.”

“Hey.” Jasper’s placating tone fed through the line. I was relieved we hadn’t video-called, where he’d see just how worried I was. “You will be amazing and comforting and do the best for that little boy. I know you will.”

A heavy exhale rushed out of me. “You think?”

“I know.” I heard the smile in his voice and reconsidered the voice chat. Seeing his happiness for myself had a way of working wonders on my nerves. “Billy needs a raise, by the way,” Jasper said. “He is a miracle worker. I have no idea how he’s managed it, but he’s set up the two rooms, one for your brother, the other for your nephew. He didn’t want to paint Tyler’s room in case there was still a smell, but he sorted out Frankie’s.”

“That’s amazing, and he totally does,” I agreed. “Did you reach out to Tanner?”

“I did. I’m meeting him at home in an hour so I can show him the building out the back.”

My heart tumbled over itself that he’d called my place home. Not wanting to call him on it and for him to backtrack, I said, “That’s great. Thank you.”

“No worries. I think it’s a great idea if you could get the building converted to a two-bedroom house for Frankie. You know you’re incredible, right?”

Heat hit my cheeks. “Well, I’m not su—”

“No, you really are. That you’re doing this, hell, looking at converting the old brick storage shed, which, by the way, I hadn’t realized just how huge it was until I started poking around in it a couple of days ago, is amazing. You’re a good brother.”

“Thank you.” My words were soft, and happiness from his praise settled around me like a hug. “Even if he only needs it for a couple of years until he’s ready to move on, I’m just trying to do my part. I’m lucky I’m in the position to do it.” It was true. I was also lucky that Mom and Dad had instilled in me the need to save, to not be frivolous. “After that, it just means we have extra space. Great for when my family visit or your mom stays over and I ply her with red wine so she tells me embarrassing stories about you.”

Jasper’s laugh carried through the line, sweet and familiar. “So that’s the big plan, huh?”

“Yep. And you know, for kids and such, for when they get older and get fed up with us.”

The hitch of his breath was audible. After a beat of silence, when I worried I may have pushed too quickly, his response hit me with so much emotion and affection it took all I had not to scream that I wanted it to happen now. “They won’t be running from me. I’m too fabulous and cool. You’ll be the one going all principal on their asses so they’ll be begging me to work my magic on you to get you to chill out.”

Quiet and filled with awe for the man who unequivocally had my heart, my words traveled the distance to him. “You think?”

“I know.”

I smiled at his response. “I get to see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there waiting.”

A beep sounded in my ear, and I pulled my phone away. Seeing Frankie’s name, I said to Jasper, “I have to go. Frankie’s calling. I’ll talk to you when I’m at the airport. I love you.”

“Love you, too,” I said quickly, and ended the call, accepting the incoming one.

“Hi, Frankie.”

“The doctors have said you can bring him by the hospital,” he said in the way of greeting. Excitement vibrated through every word.

“That’s great news,” I said immediately. “We shouldhave a couple of hours before we’re due at the airport, so we’ll come by as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.”

“All good.”

“No, I mean it.”

“I know you do, and you don’t need to keep saying it. I’m happy to do this for you both.” While I’d been hesitant when my brother had first asked, I was now fully on board. Tyler needed stability and happiness. From what I’d learned about Delila, she’d been a good mom, loving. She’d also had no one and had struggled. But she’d done her best, and from what her neighbor had said when I met her as Dad and I had helped pack up her belongings and collected some of Tyler’s things, which the lawyer had made happen for us, she’d loved her son something fierce. I’d previously said to Frankie I wished things had been different for her and for him. But wishing for that was pointless.

The present, this moment, was what we had, and we could only deal with it the best we could. While we could plan for the future, I knew so well how unpredictable that could be.

Dad had paid for Delila’s funeral, since nobody stepped up and there was no registered next of kin. It had been just the two of us and two of her neighbors who’d attended a few days earlier. The affair had beenthe epitome of somber, and I’d never been more grateful to have been loved so completely by my family.

It was now up to us all to make sure Tyler felt that same love and support as he grew into what I hoped was a healthy, happy, and well-adjusted man. And more importantly, had a childhood filled with only happiness.

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