Page 42 of Fight For Us
“Hey, it’s called dressing the turkey. We can’t have it all dry and flavorless.”
Mia shot back a sassy, “Sure,” before leading me out back to Shawn’s deck. Being twenty minutes inland, Shawn’s yard was far greener than my own. I breathed in the smell of pine coming from a tall tree at the back of his property mixed with the damp air.
“It’s nice out here, right? Almost reminds me of New York,” Mia said. She plopped in an Adirondack chair and motioned for me to join her.
“Yeah, I can see that.” I sipped my chilled wine, feeling my body relax. I hadn’t had time to catch up much with Mia thepast week, with Alex recovering and me trying to get a few hours of work in. I knew I didn’t want to say anything about Wes and our plan. If that was even happening. We talked about it that day and neither of us had brought it up since. Maybe he changed his mind.
“So sissy, when are you coming back to Krav? I know Kendahl left, but there’s other nice people you can work with. Or if you want, I can be your partner for a few classes?”
“I don’t know. I’m honestly exhausted between Alex and work and realistically I can’t afford the membership.” I knew how important Krav was to Mia and I understood where she was coming from. I should continue. Learning self-defense after everything that happened to me when I was seventeen was not only therapeutic but necessary. Mia pretty much begged me to join when I moved and I knew it helped her anxiety to see me there and learning. I guess I needed a big shove back in the right direction.
“I can pay for you. It’s important to me that you go, even if it’s just for level one. And I know you love it as much as I do.” Mia gave me the biggest puppy dog-eyed look.
“That look is so not cool.”
“What?” She feigned innocence and widened her eyes even more.
“I won’t let you pay for me. You’re my little sister. I can’t accept money from you. But I’ll recommit after the new year.”
“Promise?” she asked.
“I promise. I think I want to get Alex in the kids classes, too. Once he’s healed and gets the green light, of course.”
“That would be great for him. Especially with the whole bully situation. Have you figured out what you’re going to do about that? I bet you have grounds to get a lawyer involved. What does Wes think?”
“He hasn’t talked about it much. I guess I’ll call the school first before jumping to legal action. From what Lilly told us, and the bits that I’ve been able to get out of Alex, the first fall seemed like an accident. His flip-flop was as much the problem as the kids up there teasing them. I think he got shoved though, even if it was unintentionally off the edge. The second time, I’m not sure. Alex started the fight, but it was self-defense and one of him versus a couple of them.” I gulped a sip of wine. “I should have him switch schools after the holiday break. I’m afraid these kids will keep at it.”
“Maybe. I don’t know though, I feel like these little shits need to be held accountable,” Mia said. “I hate bullies. It makes my blood boil to think about Alex and Lilly having to deal with all this. And for what? Because they’re new?”
“I can’t imagine any other reason why. Not that kids like that need a reason.”
Mia twirled a loose curl while she stared out at the yard. “If I can do anything to help, you know I’m there. What happened at the doctor’s?”
I finished off the rest of the wine in my glass. “She said there’s a strong chance Alex may need another surgery. I opted to waitand see how he heals with the cast and recheck after the new year.”
“Damn. I’m sorry. Fingers crossed it’ll heal up and won’t need any more interventions.”
“Fingers, toes, and everything else,” I added. Mia’s phone chirped from the pocket of her hoodie. She took it out, smiling when she looked at the screen. “That can’t be Mom.” I laughed.
“God, no! It’s Ken. She’s sending her love and says she has some big news. I’ll Facetime with her later, this is sister time.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind if we call her. I’m sure she’s missing us.” And I was missing her, too.
“If you’re sure?” Mia asked.
I grabbed her phone and hit Facetime while Mia laughed beside me. Kendahl answered on the first ring.
“Mi, I miss you! Oh, hey Liv!”
“Hey Ken,” I smiled and passed the phone to my sister but not before noticing that Kendahl was sitting in a car.
“Where are you?” Mia asked. “Please tell me you’re not driving.”
Ken flipped the camera to show Coby in the driver’s seat. A blurry landscape of a tree lined highway flashed by from his driver’s side window. “Guess what?” she singsonged.
Mia perched forward in her chair and pressed her face closer to the phone screen. “You’re killing me, spit it out lady!”
“We’re on our way back to Palm Cove!” Kendahl’s voice burst through the phone at an octave that would wake hibernating animals.
