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She presses her lips together. “I shred them. Every time one arrives, I just destroy it.”
I can’t help but snort at her stubborn attitude. “Of course you do. But, please, for the sake of the kids, keep and use the new ones I’ll give you later today. They need stability.”
She sighs, frustrated, but doesn’t argue.
Just then, Seth saunters toward us, pocketing his phone. “So get this, Izzy was a college professor who apparently kept to herself. The neighbor lady babysat Cora sometimes but never met Caleb’s dad. Looks like she fell behind on rent months ago and hasn’t been taking care of the place or herself.”
“Can you take care of the rent so it’s up to date and send a cleaning crew to the apartment?” I request. “Send me the bill. Also, can you ask the concierge company to set up a nursery and a bedroom for the kids in the penthouse ASAP? Plus get them some clothes and whatever is necessary.”
“I’ll make a few calls and have all that done soon,” Seth assures me.
Ameline finally gets a word in: “Thank you for everything.” She nods a couple of times.
“Anytime. It was nice to finally meet you,” Seth says with a warm smile directed at her, then throws me a knowing glance. “Call me when you’ve got a plan, Doc. I mean it, don’t fuck it up this time.”
My cousin is almost as perceptive as my twin. I can’t lie to either one of them, but I can’t stay and discuss Ameline. Thankfully, he doesn’t press me to give him any more information.
Once he’s gone, Ameline sags against the car door with a defeated sigh. “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t even know what’s going on with my sister.”
I glance at the kids and I’m painfully aware of how much this will affect her—us. I adore my family but avoid the little ones as much as possible.
She signals toward the car. “And where am I supposed to leave them while I visit Izzy?”
I reach out, wrapping my arms around her, trying to offer assurance that she’s going to be okay. But she pushes against my chest. Her rejection stings.
“Don’t touch me, don’t hug me . . . don’t do this again. Not again,” she pleads, her voice breaking. “I don’t need you, Gabe. Though I appreciate your help, I don’t need you to . . .”
“What?” I snap. “What is it that you don’t need me to do?”
She rubs her temples wearily and pulls out her phone, tapping it fast.
“Hey, there. It doesn’t look good,” she tells whoever answers on the other side. Then, she gives the entire story of what’s happening with her sister. “I—I’m not sure. Probably more than a week. No, I don’t know. The kids won’t come to New York with me. You shouldn’t worry about it. Yes, well, I was . . .” Her voice fades as she listens to the response, and I can see the moment her face falls at whatever she’s hearing.
Something tells me that the person on the other line was her lifeline but wouldn’t give her the support she needed. She’s decided that it’s not worth even asking when she’ll get a no.
I know that she needs someone to help her, and as much as I would love to comply with her ‘leave me the fuck alone.’
Not again.
I already made the mistake once, and it cost me everything.
I lost her.
I won’t make that stupid mistake ever again.
While she’s on the phone. I make a few calls. Thankfully, Piper is in town, and even though she can’t keep an eye on Cora and Caleb, her husbands agree to do it.
“You don’t seem happy,” I note gently as Ameline ends her call. “Who was that, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Gideon,” she mutters, not meeting my gaze.
I ignore the sharp pang of jealousy piercing my chest. I want to know who this Gideon is and why she called him when I was offering my help. But I refrain from questioning further.
“Well, since he’s coming into town, I can have a car ready to pick Gideon up from the airport,” I offer, trying to be the better person.
There’s that saying to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I plan on keeping an eye on him until I figure out their relationship and maybe how to get rid of him. Is he the reason why she wants the divorce?
“No, of course, he’s not coming. He has work to do,” she replies as she opens the car door.
