Page 75 of Absinthe Minded

“I’ll grease and flour the pans.” Zach didn’t ask for an explanation, though I knew he worried.

“Thanks.” I rested my hand on his shoulder and supervised as he scooped out the shortening with a paper towel.

Since I’d become his guardian, he’d developed a fear something would happen to me. The therapists said not to worry. Kids grieving their parents often became protective of their caregivers. That was all fine and well, but I suspected since he was the oldest and a boy, he thought of himself as the man of the house.

Gabe came through the door with Ryan slung over one shoulder, his laptop bag on the other, and Chloe trailing behind him. He glanced between me and Zach. “Is Ella sleeping?”

I stuck my head in the fridge to hide my ugly-cry face. “She’s in her swing.”

“Everything okay? Are you coming down with something?”

I frowned. Of course, he’d comment on my puffy eyes and red nose. “Allergies.”

“You look awful, take something for it.” He set Ryan down. “Any word from the court?”

“Nope.” I pressed my lips into a thin line and stared. We needed to talk, but not with so many little ears present.

“I referred a Mr. Trudeau to my lawyer today.”

“He called me this morning.”

“Don’t take his calls. Santiago is handling it.” Gabe nodded toward the stairs. “I promised to play with the munchkins.”

“One less thing to worry about, I guess.” I turned my attention back to the cake batter and ignored his irritated sigh. “Have fun.”

Zach and I worked side by side, our silent labor interrupted by giggles and monster noises drifting down from the playroom. It would have been lovely to believe a happy ending waited at the end of the tunnel, but every day my doubts increased.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. “Hello?”

“Hi Maggie, this is Jessie. Can you come in tonight? One of the girls called in sick and I’m in a jam.”

I glanced at the clock. “I can be there in an hour.”

“We’re slammed. Don’t tell my cousin I said this, but the hotter you look, the hotter the tips.”

“Good to know.” I hung up and turned to Zach. “I have to work tonight.”

“Okay.” He gave me a look I couldn’t interpret. Sympathy? Frustration? Anger?

“Are you okay with me being out in the evenings?”

“Yeah, it’s nice having a guy around.”

I forced another smile. “Take the cake out when the timer goes off. You remember how to make the frosting?”

Zach nodded and surprised me with a quick hug. “I love you, Aunt Maggie.”

“I love you too.”

25

Gabe

Chloe grinnedand drew in a deep breath. “Aunt Maggie’s baking.”

I pressed pause on the video game and sniffed. Sure enough, the sweet scent of a chocolate cake filled the entire second floor. “My favorite. Must be a special day.”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “It’s not a birthday, so she’s sad.”

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