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“Low blow, Hot Shot.”
I grinned, thankful she’d used my nickname again.
“I’m also doing this for selfish reasons. I don’t want to be relegated to Wednesday date nights because it’s the only night you have off.”
Her shoulders deflated as she released a heavy sigh. It was now or never.
“Quattro does well financially, extremely well, and I hardly touched my salary from the Army. When you agreed to give us a shot, you got all of me, including my need to take care of you. Will you let me, Firefly?”
“I don’t like asking for help.” Her voice was so quiet I had to strain to hear the words.
“You didn’t ask. I offered.”
“More like demanded,” she heaved.
“Call it what you want as long as you take the money.”
She closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling through her nose for several beats. I was afraid I hadn’t pleaded my case well enough until she blinked them open and I saw defeat staring back at me. I hated myself a little but if it meant I’d gotten through to her, I’d figure out a way to eventually make it all right.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll take it this one time.”
“Thank you, baby.”
Brushing a strand of hair from her face, I pressed my lips to hers quickly. Then before she could change her mind, I pulled back.
“I’ll pick you up at six tonight.”
Quinlan
THERE WAS Afine line between need and want. I didn’twantto take a handout, however, theneedto keep food on our table won out in the end. I knew Alec expected more of a fight, which normally he would have gotten in spades, but there came a time when desperation outweighed stubbornness. That time was now.
It was becoming harder and harder to play the game. I’d robbed Peter to pay Paul so many times I had to keep a scorecard. Our bank account was never in the negative, thanks to my studies in accounting, but there was barely enough money to pay all of our bills every month, let alone to buy the necessities. When Mom was working, even part time, things were different.
I’d initially taken the job at To A Tea to help pay for a caregiver; someone to help out around the house and with Dad. The first time he had one of his more violent outbursts, she left so quickly the door didn’t even have time to smack her in the ass on her way out. We quickly realized there was only one solution. Mom quit her job and I withdrew from my online courses. Was it fair? Absolutely not. Then again, nothing about Alzheimer’s disease was fair.
My father worked his fingers to the bone to provide for us; to ensure our safety and happiness. He loved his family and he loved being a forest ranger. It gave him purpose. After his diagnosis, I watched the light leave his eyes. He knew his purpose was being stolen away, little by little, with each memory the dreaded disease took, and there was nothing any of us could do to stop it. For years, he had been our rock, our shelter in the storm, but within a matter of months, he was lost to us.
Clearing my head, I got out of my car and headed across the sidewalk for my shift at To A Tea. River was behind the counter preparing to open the store as I walked in. Her face lit up when the bell above the door rang, signaling my entrance.
“Do you have pictures?”
“Good morning to you, too, River.”
She was practically vibrating with excitement, knowing the reason behind my later-than-usual arrival. I’d planned to drag it out, make her wait, except those plans went straight out the window the second I saw her infectious grin.
“Maybe?” I returned her smile, continuing to walk toward the back to put my things away.
“Quinlan James,” she yelled, sprinting to catch up with my longer strides. “Donotkeep me in suspense. Let me see my niece or nephew.”
Opening my purse, I carefully extracted the strip of black and white photos the doctor had given Alec and me after the ultrasound. She’d been nice enough to draw a circle around the baby, considering it was so small the only thing noticeable was a black speck.
“Oh my God,” she squealed, pulling the pictures from my hand.
“Jesus. I think you burst my eardrum.”
“She’s so tiny.”
My ear was ringing slightly from my best friend’s exuberant reaction.
