Page 3 of Merry Mayhem
“I thought you were working on a project with a friend from school today?” The fear I'd felt moments ago morphs into anger that I worried at all. “Some joint science project you both wanted to get an early start on during the break?”
Guilt flashes across his face for an instant, and if we didn't look so much alike, I probably wouldn't have even recognized the look. But we do, and I made a promise to keep him safe. To help him grow up and avoid the pitfalls no one else in our family seemed capable of dodging.
“Why don't you go get ready for dinner?” I soften my voice, taking the sting out of it as much as I can. After all, he didn't mean to scare me to death.
“Oh, um, Cooke bought me burgers on the way home.” Gavin's eyes are shining, but not with happiness now. It's tears I can see building up in them, and my heart catches at the sight. “I'd have brought home some for you, but I thought you'd still be at work.”
“It's all right. I'm not that hungry, really. Just go ahead and take your shower. We can talk more when you're ready for bed.”
He says goodbye to Cooke and bumps knuckles with him, then walks past me toward his room. At the last second, he reverses course and throws his arms around my waist. “Sorry if I scared you, Gretch.”
I hug him back and a lump fills my throat as emotion swells up in my chest. This is why I said yes when the child advocate called to ask if I'd agree to be my brother's guardian. For moments like these. When it's the two of us, and he doesn't doubt that he's loved.
“I'm sorry if I sounded mad. You're right, I was just scared.”
He releases me and waves to his friend once more, then disappears down the hall to his room. I wait until I hear his door close before turning my attention to the man still standing in my home.
“You wouldn't have to worry so much if he had a phone, you know. He could text you, tell you where he's at, who he's with. I bet you could even have one of those tracking apps that shares his location with you.”
I bristle at what sounds like a gruff reprimand from someone I've only just met. “Thanks for the advice, but phones aren't exactly cheap, you know.”
He looks around the room, and I wish I could take the words back and just send him on his way. Our house is clean, but it's also nothing fancy. Fact is that the rent is cheap and it's not far from my work or Gavin's school. The few Christmas decorations we have up are old ones I made for my apartment, and I haven't had time to do much more. It's one of the things I'm looking forward to doing with Gavin when I have a few days off.
We face off, and I try not to notice how big he is. It's like he takes up all the space in my small living room and reminds me of how tiny this place is.
“He's a good kid.” His voice is rough, like he doesn't use it much, and I get the very clear impression that he doesn't mince words. “Don't be too hard on him.”
I lift my chin, folding my arms across my chest. “Thank you for the parenting advice, but considering I don't know anything about you, I'm going to opt to do what I think is best for him. He can't afford to get into trouble right now.”
“Can anyone really ever afford trouble?”
“If you must know, yes, some people can. We aren't those people.”
His lips turn down, and he opens his mouth, as if he has more free advice he wants to dispense. I'm relieved when he seems to think better of it, and only says, “Have a good night, then.”
I simply nod and then he leaves, the door shutting solidly behind him. It's just me and Gavin once again.
Like it's supposed to be.
Why does that make me so sad?
3
COOKE
The knockon my door is a surprise. Even more surprising is the person waiting on the other side.
“Hi,' says Gavin. “Sorry I got you in trouble with my sister.”
His sister.
Things click into place in my brain. I was so awestruck by the beautiful woman and her fierce eyes, which easily communicated she wasn't afraid to hurt me if I hurt Gavin, that I hadn't thought to clarify their relationship.
“She seems to love you a lot.”
He nods, and his mouth turns down in a small frown. “She does. It's not easy for her. Taking care of me. She worries a lot.”
Most good parents do. I don't say the words out loud, but the thought is loud in my head.
