I pushed the chair away from the table with my foot and sagged down in it.
I’d have to figure out how this land fit into my life now.I could sell it to pay off Josh, but then what would I do?Maybe, just maybe, I could start my own emergency clinic.Here.
The shuffle of feet coming downstairs broke the silence.Vinny stood in the doorway.
“Are you okay?”I asked.
“Can I sleep in the big bed with you?”
“Is there something wrong with your bed?”The words came out practical when what I felt was uncertainty.We still barely knew each other.His request landed heavier than I expected.
“Bad dream,” he said.
We stared, measuring each other in the quiet.
“Please?”he added, voice wobbling.“Mom used to let me when I’d have the dream about the rabbit with a balloon chasing me.”
My chest tightened at that.“Okay,” I said gently.“I’ll be there soon.Let me brush my teeth and change first.I was about to go to sleep anyway.”
He ran into the master bedroom.I grabbed some clothes to change in the bathroom while he settled onto the far side of the bed.Once changed, I sat on the edge of the bed opposite him.“How big was this rabbit?”
“Like the size of Coach Drew.”He didn’t roll over to face me.
“That’s a damned big rabbit,” I muttered.
He let out a small giggle.
“I’d be terrified if that showed up in my dreams too.”I knew only too well that bad dreams were rooted in stress.“Is there someone at school that’s like the big rabbit?”
He swallowed so hard I heard it.“There’s a kid who sort of looks like a rabbit.”
“Is he mean to you?”I worked hard to keep my tone even.
“Sometimes.Mostly he gets the other kids to leave me out.Sometimes he steals from my lunch.Once he copied my test and threatened me if I told.”
Bullying.I’d never had much patience for it.“How long has this been going on?”
“A while.”
That set my teeth on edge.“How often does he take your stuff?”
“Sometimes.”
“Tell him no.”
“He might hurt me.”
“Then make him swing first.If he does, you punch him in the nuts.”
He looked at me, eyes wide.“You won’t get mad?”
“I’m your sister, not your mom.Don’t start the fight.When he starts it, you finish it.You might get in trouble, but I’ll be proud of you.I guarantee he won’t pick on you again.”
“I’d get sent to the principal.She’s mean about fights.”
“They’ll call me.I’ll come get you.”
He rolled over and launched himself at me, arms tight around my neck, and finally broke down crying.
