Page 13 of Hold You Close
Without a second thought. “For them? Yes. I’m not worried about myself in this situation.”
His jaw ticks as he stares me down. “Obviously, my sister trusted my judgment or she wouldn’t have named me their guardian over some people.”
“That’s enough!” Nancy yells, pushing her seat back. “You two are all they have right now. Don’t you see that? You both have been a part of their lives more than any of us. Those kids are going to be lost and looking to the people they love for support and guidance. If you can’t stop this bickering, then it’s going to be at my grandchildren’s peril.” She wipes the tear that descends her cheek. “We’re all in pain, but Sabrina and David trusted you, so don’t fail them. Stop all this nonsense and focus on what’s important.”
Nancy is overcome with emotion and leaves the room with Philip following her. Shame floods me as her words sink in. I don’t know what to say. Nancy is right. Sabrina chose Ian for some reason, and I have to honor her wishes. I’ll still be there for them, loving them just like I would’ve if she and David were alive. Sabrina never did anything that wasn’t in her children’s best interest. We have to stop fighting because Chris, Morgan, and Ruby need all the family they have left.
“It’s very clear that Mr. and Mrs. Donegan wanted you both to be involved in their children’s lives.” The lawyer gets to his feet while gathering the papers. “I’ll give you both a few minutes to digest everything that’s happened today. As for a letter or an instruction guide, she left these and asked that they be read in private. I’ll have them for you on your way out.” He gathers a stack of envelopes in his hands.
I nod. “Thank you.”
He returns the gesture with a soft smile. “I’ve dealt with this too many times, Ms. Parish and Mr. Chase. Families are torn apart by loss and tragedy, but your sister was a sweet woman. She loved her kids and she loved her brother. She and her husband agonized over this. They truly considered every aspect.”
Ian grips the back of his neck. “She got that from my father. He taught us to prepare for any situation and always have a plan.”
“Yes, well, it was a good thing he did because we never know what will happen,” he says before walking out the door.
We’re quiet for a few minutes, letting everything that happened a few minutes ago settle around us. Sabrina wanted her children to go with Ian for some unknown reason. Maybe she explained it in a letter to me? Maybe the answer to what in the world was going through her mind is there. She was a planner, I know this, but it still makes no sense to me.
Ian’s eyes meet mine and I see the boy I knew a long time ago. “You can judge me all you want, London, but I love those kids.”
“Loving them and being there for them are two different things.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not a fucking teenager anymore. You need to get over yourself and what happened between us. Open your eyes and see who I am. I’m a successful business owner with a nice house, and everything I could want. Those kids are my sister’s kids and just because you’re hung up on who I was once upon a time doesn’t mean you know me now.”
“I live behind you,” I remind him. “I see the life you live. You work insane hours, and who is going to watch the kids when you’re at the club until four in the morning?”
Ian stands, moving to the window. “I’ll figure it out.”
“What about Ruby’s dance classes?”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’ll take her.”
“Chris’s basketball? What about Morgan’s science project that’s due next week? Did you even know she was accepted into the advanced science program?” I keep pushing. “Oh, and what about on Saturdays when you’d normally be having your little sleepovers? Are you planning to have Morgan tuck them all in?”
He glares at me. So much anger radiates off of him. “Jealous?”
“Of them? Umm, no.” I almost gag. I’m not jealous of them because I would never want to be those girls. I want to be loved, desired, placed above everyone else. I feel bad for them. They’ll be tossed out the next morning like trash and a new wave will come in the next weekend.
“Look, London. I just found out that not only did I lose my sister and brother, who were also my fucking best friends, but I now have three kids! Do I have all the answers? No, but I’m a smart guy and I’ll manage just fine.”
“Great,” I huff. He doesn’t have a clue what all this means. It’s not just some overnight stay, this is the rest of their lives. It’s an entirely new way of living, but I’m sure he doesn’t even get that yet. He never sees the big picture.
“None of this is great,” Ian says, running his hand down his face. “Not a single thing about any of this is great. I shouldn’t be taking care of those kids, it should be their mother and father.”
Softening, I get to my feet, walk over to where he is, and place my hand on his back. “I’m sorry.” My words are full of remorse. “Sabrina waslikea sister to me, but she was yours.”
He turns, his eyes full of emotion. “It doesn’t feel real, you know?”
I do. I keep waiting for things that won’t ever come. My phone to ring, her to show up at my door because David told her to go do something for herself, a box to end up on my stoop that she ordered and is hiding from David, or my heart to stop hurting. “Look, I don’t want to fight with you . . .”
He snorts. “That’s all we do.”
“It doesn’t have to be. I’m not saying I like you or that we’ll ever be friends again, but we both love those kids. I want to be there for them, help them through this, and maybe the two of us can give them some hope.”
Christopher opens the door. “Aunt London, Uncle Ian?”
“Hi, honey.” I watched him become a man in just a few minutes when we found out about the crash. It was an instant switch.
