I wrestled myself out of my car and tripped over Lily’s bike. I heard the side of my skirt rip and swore under my breath while climbing up the side of my car. “What the hell are you three doing? Turn the chainsaw off, Milo! Put that log down Ava! Lily, drop the log and move your bike!”
Milo looked over his shoulder at me and killed the power to his chainsaw. Swiping his newly dyed green hair out of his eyes, he smiled and lifted a hand to flash me a peace sign. “Soph! You’re home! I need some help.”
Ava was my younger sister by three years and she knew me well enough to know that I was on the verge of freaking out. She tossed the log down and pushed Lily towards her bike. “Welcome home, Sis. That wasn’t what it looked like.”
Milo grinned even wider. His eyes were slits that I wasn’t sure how he could see out of and I counted myself lucky that Mrs. Johnson hadn’t called to complain about the smell of Milo’s pot again. “My new project is going to be amazing, Soph. I’m going to have people hold the log and I’ll make one cut that way. That cut will lead me into my final piece. What do you think?”
Lily threw herself at me and wrapped her long limbs around me. At seven, she was taller than all the other kids her age. “Mom! I’m going to be part of Milo’s art!”
I kissed the top of her head and frowned when I smelled peanut butter. “Did you do another one of your spa days, Lily?”
“I have to move my bike, Mom!” Lily’s avoidance told me that I was going to find a mess inside the house. Her spa days were just her taking random food and using it in new, creative ways. They typically ended in the house being destroyed and her smelling like whatever food she’d used last.
Ava walked over to me and held out her hands. “I’ll clean it up.”
I took a deep breath and held up my hands. “Nope. I can’t talk to you yet. Not until I inform your boyfriend that his new idea is idiotic.”
“Aw, Soph. You really think so?” Milo scuffed his shoe across the ground in front of him and frowned.
“Milo… Yes.” I stepped over scrap pieces of wood to rest my hand on his arm. “We’ve talked about safety a million times. Doyou think it’s safe for you to chainsaw something that someone else is holding?”
He groaned. “You’re right. Damn.”
I let his innocent nature improve my mood. “I love the idea, though. It’s beautiful. You just can’t have anyone hold the wood you’re cutting. Okay?”
He nodded. “I’ll figure it out.”
I watched him meander away, already lost in his ideas. Turning back to my sister, I saw she was shaking her head while smiling. “What?”
“I tried to tell him that a million times. He wouldn’t hear it. You say it one time and suddenly he can’t agree fast enough. If I didn’t love how much he loves you and looks at you like family, I’d be pissed.” She hesitated and then groaned. “Shit. You found out about the promotion today. They passed you up again?”
The urge to cry had my eyes burning but instead of giving into the tears, I pinched the bridge of my nose and nodded. “They gave it to a guy who’s been with the company for less than two years.”
“Did they say why?”
“Supposedly he has more leadership experience.” I watched as Mrs. Johnson stood in her yard, pretending to water her flowers as she stared at us. “I know it’s probably because I won’t stay at the office for eighty to ninety hours a week, but I can’t help thinking it could have something to do with Gerald.”
“That creep. Of course it has something to do with him, Soph. You’re always saying that you feel like he’s hinting at something with you.” She gave me a knowing look. “You’ve got the best gut I’ve ever known. You’re never wrong.”
I waved at Mrs. Johnson and forced a smile. “She called me again on the way home. Apparently, Milo’s hair is offensive.”
Ava immediately raised her middle finger at the old woman. “That’s right, you old hag. Get your panties in a twist. Milo’s hair is beautiful!”
I pulled Ava’s hand down and sighed. “You know she’s going to call me about that.”
“What? She couldn’t hear me.”
“You flipped her off, Ava.” I watched Mrs. Johnson stomp her way inside her house and turned my attention to Lily. “How was she today?”
“She was good.” Ava hesitated. “I promise I’ll clean up the mess inside. Maybe I should go ahead and do that now. Why don’t you stay out here with Lily?”
“It’s fine. I’d rather just come inside and nurse my wounded ego.” I smiled for what felt like the first time all day as Lily came running towards me. “Where’s the fire?”
She held out my phone. “Uncle Jack’s on the phone!”
I looked in my purse and raised my eyebrows. “How’d you get my phone without me noticing?”
Ava cleared her throat. “How about we go inside and start cleaning while Mom talks to Uncle Jack?”