Page 93 of Lucky Penny
I keep my arms at my sides, mostly because they feel like they weigh a hundred pounds. I can’t hold his gaze for more than a second—it hurts too much. We have the same amber eyes. We got them from our mother, but that’s someone Danny refuses to talk about, so I never do either.
“You cut your hair,” I say, because it’s the only thing I can think of.
He cracks a big grin, ribs shaking with laughter. It’s familiar and strange all at the same time.“I did, yes.” He runs a hand through his short hair. He looks handsome. “Figured the skater boy look doesn’t fly when you’re almost thirty.”
I smile for real this time. I don’t see the blue jumpsuit, I just see my brother.
“I didn’t think you’d come,” he says with a shrug.
“Yeah…me neither.”
From the table next to us, a cough cracks through the air. There’s a burst of laughter somewhere behind me, and it sounds easier for everyone else. They’ve probably been coming every week for years.
“How’s Fia?” he asks, and I let out a small sigh of relief. I can talk about her, that’s easy.
“She’s good.” I lean forward. “Well, I mean, she’s six months pregnant, as you know.”
I don’t have to wait for a reaction, because Danny’s shaking his head, though he’s stillgrinning. How could someone who has no freedom smile so much? Danny didn’t look this happy even when he had an easy life as a teenager with barely any rules.
“I can’t believe our baby sister is going to be a mom. She better be finishing school.”
“Oh, she is. Nan would haunt her if she didn’t,” I add, feeling my body loosen little by little. I play with my hair, and the papers are brought into view.
He quizzically nods at me. “What’ve you got there?”
I swallow, nervous jitters racing up my legs. “I wanted to talk to you about something, Danny…” I start, his name still feeling strange on my lips. “It’s about the house and Fia.”
My body braces in anticipation of a blow-up. It’s not like I don’t want to talk to him, I do. More than ever, I want to sit here and talk to Danny about everything. I want to hug him, I want to apologize, I want to hear what he’s been up to, but we only have thirty minutes, and I have to remember Fia, too.
“Shoot,” he says, and I blurt it out.
“I want to sell the house. I want to help Fia settle somewhere nice and safe, preferably closer to me in Raleigh. And we’ll split the profits three ways, so you’ll have a nest egg available for you when you get out in May.”
My words hang between us, and Danny laughs.
“What’s so funny?” I furrow my brow, and he partially covers his mouth.
“You’re still doing that? Taking full responsibility for our sister,” he says, and my walls rise immediately.
“I know you haven’t seen the house in…a while…” I choose my words carefully. I need him to take my side on this. “But it needs so much work. The historical homes are going for a lot right now. We could get a huge amount, and I’d handle everything. Fia is resisting it, but if you agree to sell, she might reconsider.”
He looks at me skeptically, but I keep going.
“I’m not going to pull the rug out from under her, or from Jesse. I just want to make sure she’s set up for success.” I nod, feeling strong in my convictions.
Danny is silent for a while, so long that I begin to wonder if something is wrong, but he looks up, eyes sharp and clear. Something I’m not used to—last time I saw him, he was stoned.
“If you think this is the right choice, you have my support. But on one condition.”
I don’t likeconditions, but I eagerly wait.
“Give her one year. Let her have the baby and give her time. If you really think it’s going to be too much, she’ll come to that realization quickly, on her own. Then you can swoop in and get the ball rolling.”
I consider this. I don’t love it, but given how stubborn Fia is, it might be my only choice.
“Okay,” I say slowly, inhaling and exhaling through my nose. “You’ll sign in a year, I have your word?”
“You have my word.” Danny nods, seriously.
