Page 3 of His for the Taking

“I’m not pushing you or Mom out of the way, or Matthew and Lacey for that matter either. Everyone has their own lives to live. I think Emma saw that before I did. Our family has put their lives on hold for two years. It’s time you and Mom start to do more than working and watching after JoJo.” I pause in our walk since we’re now standing outside of Josephine’s room. My goal is to move her from the bedroom to her car seat and repeat the process when we get home and hopefully she’ll stay asleep if I don’t jostle her around too damn much.

“Yeah, your mother has been asking me to take her out west for years now. I think you’re onto something, son.” I slowly turn the handle on the door. There my princess sleeps, soundly, with her thumb in her mouth and the bunny she prefers to hold on to each night.

“It’s not a bad idea, to take a trip here and there.” Mom and Dad still work. Mom as a nurse at the local high school, Dad as the manager of the hardware store. One day, when they’re both ready to retire, they want to buy one of those vans to travel in; not an RV but a van, all kitted out with the creature comforts Mom wants and demands.

“I think you’re right. I’ll talk to your mother once you’re settled in with Josephine,” Dad whispers, standing near the door. I move toward the bed, quiet on my feet. Josephine isn’t what I’d call a deep sleeper, especially if she’s not in her own bed.

“Shhh,” I coo softly as one hand goes beneath her neck, my arm reaching underneath her knees. Josephine turns into my body, holding on to her bunny tightly, and her little eyelids flutter as if they’re going to open but manage to stay closed. I take a moment to breathe in my little girl’s scent. Her baby scent has long since vanished, but in its place is the body wash she uses now. The fresh scent from her bath this morning lingers lightly, and it calms the bullshit swirling in my head as I whisper, “Let’s go home, sweetheart,” once I’ve got her in my arms and she’s settled. The thought of Kody and how she played with my little girl for hours without a break comes to mind, how when I did finally run interference, there was a blush on her cheeks. And when she stood up, walking back toward Shaun, it was damn hard not to let my gaze linger on her ass. I shake off the thought of what she’d feel like in my hands.

4

KODY

“Mornin’, sis. Sleep well?” I walk into the kitchen. My hair is in a sloppy bun with a silk headband holding the front pieces in place and out of my face. I can hear the laughter in his tone as he brings the cup of coffee to his lips.

“Yeah, except all I do is sleep till noon. You?” The smell of coffee is like air to my lungs. I shuffle my feet toward the pot of black gold, not caring that I look like a walking zombie. When I say all I do is sleep in, that’s been the size of it, minus reconnecting with my parents, brother, and, by default, the Evans.

“Like a baby. I’m about to head into work. I’m working late and then meeting the guys for poker at Matt’s,” Shaun tells me. He works with Jameson and Matthew at Lane Grading and Clearing, Jameson’s company.

“Okay.” I grab a coffee mug that Shaun set off to the side. Shocker, it’s black again. My brother needs some damn color in his life, and not in the way of my bright floral full-length fluffy robe. Did I mention his house is also the North Pole but in the south?

“You sure you’re okay, sis?” Shaun is probably worrying that I’m upset or deep in my head. That’s not the case. I’m looking at the powdered creamer my brother uses and thinking it’s sacrilegious to use something like that in your coffee. I make a mental note to stop at the grocery store today, especially after a week of this garbage.

“Yeah, I’m not awake yet.” It’s the truth, really, although with a side of yuck. I’m not a morning person, and everyone in our family is fully aware. I gave my parents a run for their money in my teenage years. Meanwhile, Shaun is the early riser. He also wasn’t the one who felt like they needed to see the world, which also meant he didn’t get his heart torn to pieces like I did. A hard lesson to learn, one I had to learn on my own. There’s a lot of should-haves, could-haves, and would-haves I’d change if I could, except I can’t. So, that means being thirty years old and starting over.

“As long as you’re positive.” This is why I moved in with my brother versus our parents. Not to mention they now have a two-bedroom house and Dad now has a hobby room while Mom has a she-shed in the small backyard. Our parents, Mom specifically, would not let things rest. She’d pepper me with questions I’ve already answered over and over again. I do not need to hash and rehash my past that is my ex-husband. No freaking way.

“I am, promise. I’m going to the grocery store today, so if you need anything, let me know,” I state. “Creamer included.” The comment can’t be helped. Shaun laughs at my dig on his powdered shit, probably has protein in it, too.

“Yeah, I’ve got a list going. I’ll leave you money, too.” I swallow the wrong way when he feels the need to offer cash. Sure, I’ve been a hermit, not spending money, but I do have some set aside even after paying Shaun back for the attorney fees.

“I’ve got it. You won’t accept rent. The least I can do is buy groceries and cook a few meals a week. I’m also going to look for jobs while I’m out.” I turn around, coffee mug in hand. I’m unsure how much more of this hot garbage creamer I can take knowing I’m heading to the store. I might even splurge for a coffee shop cup of coffee instead.

“Kody, you don’t have to get a job right away. Settle in, explore the town, find yourself, or take this time to build up your photography business. I’m not home enough for you to be a burden. Quit acting like you need to leave when you just got here.” My eyes fill with tears, but I refuse to let them fall. I do a lot of blinking, quickly. My makeup from yesterday is only going to make me look worse, and then Shaun is going to get pissed again. A vicious cycle each time I unfold another piece of my disastrous six-year marriage. “Ah fuck, baby sis. Come ‘ere.” Shaun’s arms are open, and because I’m a lover, not a fighter, the tears fall before I can blink them away. My big brother knows what I need. Something as simple as a pep talk and a hug has me ready to cry a river of tears.

“Thank you.” My voice is thick with emotion. Maybe this is why I’ve been sleeping so much, trying to ignore the emotions bubbling along the surface. The tears aren’t over Richie, honestly. They aren’t. They’re over the fact I stayed away from home too damn long and dealt with too much of Richie’s shit that I never should have in the first place.

“You’re good. Take it day by day. Which, by the way, hold off on the job hunt for a week, eh?” That piques my interest even more, wondering why he’d ask me something like waiting to get a job.

“Why?” My voice is muffled as I wipe my tears on my brother's shirt. He offered, and I’m taking advantage.

“Matthew may have mentioned you used to babysit when you were in high school and college. Jameson is checking out some schools for Josephine. He thinks it’ll backfire, and he’ll need someone to watch JoJo,” Shaun explains. I make sure to finish cleaning my face on his bright yellow work shirt, the only color he probably has in his whole closet, and the only reason he has it is because he works in the woods clearing land.

“I’m not going to hold my breath. Jameson looked like he wanted me as far away from his daughter as possible.” I step away, shrugging my shoulders. Though I’d be a liar if I said the idea doesn’t excite me. Nannying by day and doing some photography stuff on the side; it’d be perfect almost too perfect.

“He’s like that with everyone, especially women. You know how this town can be. They see a single dude with a kid, and they’re trying to get close to their child in order to get close to the dad.” My eyebrows furrow as disgust rolls through my body like a tidal wave. I shouldn’t be surprised. Jameson is a catch, in more ways than one. Dirty blond hair, blue eyes, a maintained beard, muscular build, and that’s only in the looks alone. What people don’t see is the fierce protector Jameson is, how amazing he is with his daughter, and I’ve only seen him once since I’ve been back.

“I’ll wait a week, no more. I’m not expecting a job to fall into my lap, and I’m still going to see what they have for availability in town.” Shaun goes to say something else, but I’m cutting him off before he can object. “I’m still going to work on the photography side, post to social media, and start the re-branding process along with getting my business license moved from Chicago to North Carolina.”

“Alright, I can’t argue with that. The groceries are another story. If I ask for something specific and you’re going to the store, I’ll leave a list with the money. The shit I usually buy isn’t cheap. I don’t expect you to pay for more than your share.” This time, it’s me ready to interrupt. “Don’t start. I make great money. My mortgage is cheap, and it’s not like you hog all the hot water. I’m good. Save your money until you’re ready.” I nod, unwilling to start blubbering all over my brother’s shirt once again. It’s hard to fathom staying away from home for so long, minus the holidays, when I have such a great family, especially because I did it for a loveless marriage.

“Okay, Shaun, I’ll relent.”

“Good, glad that’s settled. I’m outta here. If I’m late for work, Jameson will give me a ration of hell at the poker table tonight.” I roll my eyes. Shaun can hold his own with cards. Not sure how the others fair.

“Have a good day at work and stay safe,” I tell my brother, knowing he’s going to be clearing land today on some kind of machine.

“Always. See you later, kiddo.” At that, I roll my eyes. This is what I get for having an older brother.

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