Page 15 of Third and Ten

She turns her mouth to the side. “We’ve been better. It was a rough morning.”

I sigh heavily. “Anything I can do?”

She shakes her head softly and turns back to the dishes she’s just dropped into the sink. I join her and pick up the rinsing, and we continue the chore in silence for a few minutes before she speaks again. “Are you going to Ethan’s game tonight?”

“That’s what I planned, but I don’t mind staying behind if you’d like to go. You might enjoy the fresh air.”

She takes her time drying off her hands before she speaks again. “Tenley, I…” Her voice breaks off, and I see her eyes watering up.

“Mom, whatever it is, all you need to do is ask. I can watch Ethan play or stay home with Dad. I’m here to help, remember? I don’t want you to keep trying to do it all alone.”

“That’s just it. I know it seems like I’m being antisocial, but I just don’t know how much time I have left with your daddy. And I love Ethan more than life itself. But I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore, and I’m afraid that raising a grandchild while nursing your father through multiple rounds of cancer has taken its toll on me, too. I’m…tired.”

I stare at her for a second, noting how she’s started to reflect her age. Her formerly light-brown hair is gray and thin, and her face is gaunt, with newly etched lines appearing around her eyes and mouth. I think of my sister for a second, since they’ve always shared a strong resemblance, and wonder if Tessa might have aged similarly if we hadn’t lost her to a rare postpartum complication at the age of nineteen.

“Of course you are,” I agree. “You’ve been Superwoman for years. Let me help.”

“I’m afraid you don’t understand what I’ll be asking of you.”

I shake my head. “What do you mean?”

“Tenley, I’ve been running on fumes for the past few years. And I think that once this is all over, I’m going to need some time to rest. But I can’t do that while I’m raising a teenager.”

I suck in the corner of my bottom lip as I finally grasp her meaning. I feel like an idiot, realizing that she’s been waiting for me to offer to take over as Ethan’s guardian, but I’ve been too self-involved to notice. The guilt swirls around in my chest. Of course, I love my nephew. I just don’t love the idea of facing some of my biggest fears by taking on my sister’s fate.

What are my options, though? My family has been making sacrifices all this time, while I was off pursuing my dreams and living the way I wanted. It’s my turn to help, and a few years of supervising a self-sufficient, smart, respectful teenage boy won’t be all that hard. It’s not like I’ll be changing diapers or staying up with a crying baby, after all. It’s the very least I can do.

I step closer to my mother and wrap my arms around her. She returns the hug after a second, most likely surprised that I’m initiating the exchange. “I’m sorry I didn’t get it on my own, but of course I’ll do whatever you need for Ethan. And I apologize for waiting so long to come back and pull my weight.” I let go of her so I can be sure she’s heard my offer. “But I mean it. If you want me to stay around for a few years and help, I will. If you want me to find another place for Ethan and me to live, just say the word.”

A few of the tears she’s been holding back stream down her cheeks, and she pulls me back in to hug me tighter. “Thank you, baby. I wish I didn’t have to ask you for something this heavy. I never wanted you to inherit so many of my responsibilities, but I have to make sure that Ethan has at least one parent who can give him the love and attention he deserves. And I want you to have this experience, too.”

I’m tempted to ask what she means by that last part, but I figure it’s better left alone for now, especially since I have more important questions to ask. “But what about his biological dad?” I venture. “I mean, did you ever…”

She frowns. “No, not exactly. Tessa gave me a name when she found out she was pregnant. She claimed he didn’t want to be involved. I wrote to him when Ethan was a few years old, but he never responded. Then I reached out again a couple months ago, when we found out your dad’s cancer was back. He still hasn’t answered.”

I nod thoughtfully. “Could that become a problem for us later?”

“I spoke to a lawyer about it, as well as about transferring guardianship to your name, just in case. He said it should be an easy transition since no one else was named on the birth certificate. And I hope the two of you will stay here for a while longer, at least. There’s no point in moving him out of the only home he’s ever known at a time like this, don’t you think? Or making you spend all your money on a place to live when we have plenty of room.”

I can’t help but smile as she rambles on. I’m sure she feels a sense of relief after finally getting it all off her already burdened chest. “Of course, we’ll stay a while. It’s not like we wouldn’t be back for dinner every night anyway, right?” I chuckle lightly, and she sniffles through a smile.

“I don’t know, I think your cooking might be better than mine.”

“I doubt that will ever happen.” I grin at her.

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we settled this today,” she says, turning back to the dishes as if we weren’t just having a life-altering conversation.

“I’m afraid to ask why.”

“It’s parent night, so Ethan needs a field escort for the ceremony before the game.”

I cringe. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”

She laughs heartily. “Of course it was. I’ve already filled out the paperwork so that they’ll be calling out your name to represent your sweet, handsome nephew. Ethan was already planning to ask you if you’d walk with him.”

I throw my head back with a huff, trying not to smile at her. “I see where your grandson has learned to be so canaille.”

She says nothing but purses her lips as she continues wiping the countertops.

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