“Harrison.” She groaned my name, but when she ran her hands down her face, she was definitely trying to rub away amusement. She finally came to a complete stop on a rocky ridge where the setting sun cast shadows on her cheeks from her long lashes. The anger and exhilaration flushed her cheeks. The golden hour lighting illuminated her like an angel, making her even more mesmerizing.
“I feel like this isn’t about the cupcakes,” I said after a long and loaded silence.
Her jaw ground before she said, “No. It’s definitely about the cupcakes.”
“Okay. But maybe not entirely?” I ventured. “I was going to clean up, you know. I just … I got distracted.”
“I don’t think you did it on purpose.” And the sincerity in her voice only made me feel worse.
“I try so hard to do the right thing yet constantly muck things up. I wanted you to be able to get out of the house for a while. I wanted to prove I could handle it all.”
“I shouldn’t have left. I have so much to do anyway,” she said, not meeting my gaze.
“George is fine. The girls are fine. It could have been worse. Just a little mess. I’m going to clean up.”
She winced.
“You don’t like my cleaning?”
She just shook her head. “I don’t know how to talk about this without hurting your feelings.”
I frowned. I didn’t want to talk about it either, then. “Are you worried about Joey?” I asked instead.
She blinked at the sudden change in subject. “I mean …” She shook her head, eyes looking up and to the side. “I’m always worried about Joey. And Collette. And George.” She frowned and looked down, wrapping her arms tight around her middle. “And that’s why I needed help.”
“I promise I’ll pay more attention. Those girls are like wild animals.” I thumbed back to the house. “They have these big pleading eyes, and when they beg, it’s impossible not to give in to them.”
I did my best impersonation of them.
“I’m familiar with the tactic,” she said flatly as her gaze moved over my face.
“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” I tilted down my chin and begged.
She blinked at me. “You’re a ridiculous person …”
“I’ve been told.” I made my bottom lip jut out. I grabbed her hands, remembering her injury. “And let me put ice on this,” I said, pushing the almost melted ice at her.
She sighed and gave me her hand. I felt hopeful as I placed the damp kitchen paper on her red finger.
“I think the ice melted.”
“It’s the gesture that counts,” I said.
“Not always.” She studied our joined hands. A sense of dread accompanied the tension growing in her features. “Listen, Harrison. I just … this isn’t what I wanted for Collette. She shouldn’t have this pseudo-family filling in for the real thing.”
“We’re doing our best.” Fear tugged at the muscles in my neck.
She chewed her lip. “It just feels like there’s no structure. It’s all chaos. It shouldn’t be like this. She should have her mother here.”
“She should,” I agreed tentatively, afraid to speak my mind about the woman who was wholly absent.
“It’s complicated with Joey. She’s been such a mess in the past. This is the longest she’s held a job and not indulged in harmful behavior. I worry about putting too much pressure on her to return. But she should have told me,” she said.
“She should have told you.” I blew on her finger without thinking. She swallowed and looked away. “I have a friend who has struggled with addiction. One of the things I had to learn was my actions, one way or another, couldn’t stop his addiction. It had to be his choice to get help.”
“I just feel like if I can make things easier, she will stay on track. She hasn’t had it easy.”
“I understand.” I began rubbing her palm, not ready to let go or end this moment when she was opening up to me. “Where’s Collette’s father?”
