Chapter1
Tessa
“Mo-om!Remi’s been in there for half an hour.I’ve gotta get ready!”
I swear, I’m about to start drinking and it’s not even eight in the morning.
Love my kids, but they sure wear me down.
“Use my bathroom, Linc,” I yell up the stairs.
I’m not sure what’s gotten into my youngest boy, Remi, recently.A few months ago, it would’ve been a chore to get him to brush his teeth or, God forbid, have the occasional shower, but lately he’s been spending a lot of time in there.
Must be a girl.It was the same for his older brother, Lincoln, who went from looking like Pigpen and reeking like a gym locker most of the time to clean-clothed and smelling fresh.Maybe a little heavy on the Axe, but definitely better than the scent of dirty socks.
Remi wasn’t quite that bad, he’s not into sports and athletics like his brother, but I was still relieved when he voluntarily took a shower a few weeks ago without me badgering him.I made the mistake of asking him what had prompted it—forgetting the unspoken parenting rule to never point out the desired behavior—and got my head bitten off in response.
Still, I’m focusing on the silver lining.For the first time since puberty hit our house years ago, I can breathe freely again.Offering up what I’ve come to treasure as my personal sanctuary for the sake of peace in the house is a small sacrifice.
Maybe now I can have five quiet minutes for my coffee to take effect.Grabbing my mug, I head out the back door to the deck.
It’s a little chilly, but the cool air on my skin wakes me up and sharpens my senses.I love this time of day, everything smells fresh and full of promise, and this view is nothing to sneeze at.It’s one of the things that sold me on this house.It’s a much bigger place than we had in Spokane, and for less money, which is always a bonus.This is a quiet neighborhood on the edge of town, with mostly unspoiled nature at our back.I loved the idea of my boys having all this space with direct access to the outdoors.Heck, I’d even hoped it might spark some interest in Remi, who has been struggling to find his niche, but so far he’s persisted in his displeasure to have been forced to move here.
I hate to label him as such, but Remi is my worry child.He seems so rudderless compared to his older brother, who has always been so clear in his purpose.Linc is a typical jock, with a focus on athletic performance first, girls a close second, and last, but not least, his grades.Despite some of the family shit that went on in his younger years, before I divorced his father, he seems to skate his way through life.
It has to be tough for Remi to grow up in the shadow of his older brother, and I’ve tried to help him find his own light to shine in, but still my baby struggles.
“Ma!”
I tilt my head back to see my youngest poking his head out of his bedroom window.
“I need a ride.”
“Why can’t you go with Linc?”
Lincoln worked part-time jobs since he turned fifteen, with the sole purpose of saving money to buy his own car.He is now the proud owner of an older Jeep Wrangler, rather beaten up, but running in good order.
“He’s picking up Naomi.”
Aha.These past few years, my eldest is never without female companionship for long, and once school started last month, it didn’t take more than a week for me to start hearing the name Naomi pop up.
Linc has picked her up for school a few times before, and I guess he told his brother to get in the back seat, so Naomi could sit in front beside him.Remi doesn’t like to be a third wheel.I can see both their points, but I don’t have the energy to try and negotiate a compromise this morning.I have a ton of work waiting for me back at the station and can’t afford to be late.
Luckily, the high school is just a few blocks from the office.
“You’d better hustle, because I’m leaving in—” I quickly check my watch.“Three minutes.”
Once we are on our way into town, I look over at Remi, who is slumped in the passenger seat beside me, his head turned to the side window in a clear attempt to avoid any and all conversation.I’m his mom, so fat chance of that.
“Bud, happy as I am you’re spending more time in the bathroom, you’ve gotta leave time for your brother to get ready.”
A snort is my only answer.
“Hey,” I voice a little sharper.“Don’t give me attitude when I’m doing you a favor by dropping you off at school.All I’m asking is for you to be considerate, that’s all.”
“Yeah, whatever.”
I clench my jaw, resisting the urge to react to his disengaged response.I swear I can feel another gray hair sprouting every damn time we have one of these interactions.
