Page 99 of The Fix-Up

I put a hand on my hip. “I don’t get it. Why are you avoiding him? He’s a harmless old man who just wants to get to know you.”

He stomped across the room to a table further away.

“Now you’re avoiding me, too? That’s going to be tough since we live in the same house. Do you know how annoying I can be when I put my mind to it?”

Still nothing, just continued to wipe down tables aggressively.

I sighed. “This isn’t at all like you.”

“You don’t know that.” He glared at me. “You hardly know me.”

“Ha! He talks.” I waltzed over to him. “Bet I know you better than you think.”

He straightened. “Prove it.”

“Okay.” I shuffled closer until I was two or three inches away. “This makes you uncomfortable when I stand this close to you.”

He crossed his arms, brushing against me in the process. “No, it doesn’t.”

“You’re dying to take a step back.”

“I’m not.” To prove me wrong, he took a small step closer and glowered at me. “See?”

“So brave,” I murmured. “Another thing I know about you: you buy expensive laundry detergent.”

“What?”

I leaned in and pressed my nose to his shoulder. “Yup. That’s the smell.”

He froze, his whole body going solid, and then his hands wrapped around my waist. “That’s not a good idea.”

“You’re right.” But I didn’t move.

Gently, he pushed me away. His hands on my waist flexed before he dropped them. He took two big steps backwards before returning to wiping down tables.

“Sorry,” I mumbled and plopped down at the nearest table. “I was just teasing you.”

“It’s fine.”

I huffed a laugh. “Sure. I still think you should consider talking with Teddy.”

He threw down the dishtowel and ripped off his apron. “I don’t understand why my one living relative has to be…has to be…” He shoved his hand in his hair. “His hands shake and…and he smells like alcohol. He’s too thin and frail, and I can’t. I can’t be responsible for another person. I already have Mikey and I have Dad’s place in Austin and this place and the house and you and?—”

I interrupted him. “You aren’t responsible for me.”

“I know I’m not responsible for you. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to take care of you.” His gaze caught mine; something in my chest cracked at the look in his eye. I didn’t want to think about what it was.

I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t think of anything rational to say to that. Instead, I walked behind the counter and pulled out an envelope. I set it down and tapped it with my fingertip. “Teddy was here earlier. He left those for you. They’re photos of Ollie and your grandma. He thought you might want to see them.”

His look was unreadable as he stared at the spot on the counter.

After removing my apron, I grabbed my purse and headed to the back door. “I’m going to go meet Iris and Oliver. I’ll come back later and finish cleaning.”

FORTY-ONE

Love is like you can love a person. Love is a heart.

—JACK, AGE 7

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