Page 139 of As the Rain Falls
“Jeez, thanks Mom!”
“Now, let’s not get jealous. You know I love you the most.” She presses a kiss to Kayla’s temple, quickly fixing how one of her braids looks. “How was school?”
Kayla kisses her back. “Good, but I’m really glad we’re getting a break soon.”
I take a bite while they chat about our upcoming “winter” break. Our birthdays are close, with mine being on December 25th and hers on January 1st, but we never get to celebrate together because she always flies to Paris to visit her grandmother.
This year, though, we’ll be spending New Years Eve together for the first time.
No family, no siblings.
Just us.
I’mveryexcited.
“Is the lasagna good?” Manon asks, glancing at me again.
I nod fast, swallowing down a bite.
“Good. I’ll pack you a little something for you to take home.”
“Oh. There’s no need for that.”
“Of course, there is. We help each other, don’t we?”
She leans her head against Kayla’s shoulder, the two of them looking eerily like twins. Kayla takes after her mother, with full lips and almond-brown eyes.
“How’s your mom?”
“I…” I hesitate.
Mom hasn’t called me since last time. If she has something to say, she goes through Dad or Nathaniel first.I think she doesn’t see the point in confiding in me about Grandma’s illness. Maybe she doesn’t think I’m mature enough to handle it.
“She’s okay,” I answer carefully, pushing the cheese around my plate. “I mean, it’s terminal cancer. There’s not much the doctors can do at this point.”
Manon’s face falls.
She presses her hand to her chest in quiet sympathy.
I find her so sweet.
“If you ever need a place to stay, you’re welcome here. Kayla would love to have you around.”
I glance at Kayla, who immediately nods. “My room is big enough for the both of us.”
“And Olivia’s old bed is still somewheredans le garage, right?“They share a look, already planning everything. My heart melts. “It doesn’t feel right to leave you alone with those boys.”
I press my lips together, trying not to smile.
“That’s really sweet, but I really don’t want to put all that pressure on you guys. I’m doing fine, really. Home is… good.”
Mrs. Saint-Louis sighs, watching me eat. She doesn’t look entirely convinced; her expression is sharp, a little too observant. Much like Kayla, she’s impossible to fool.
“What about that brother of yours? Is he helping?”
I swallow hard and force a smile. “As much as he can.”
The ugly truth is, I’ve been avoiding him. The less I see Nathaniel, the better I feel about myself. He’s been fixated on it,pushing me to say things I don’t mean and things we both know aren’t true.
