“I’ll be fine,” she said, her voice thready. Then she looked sideways. “I just broke up with Chip.”
“About fucking time,” a growly voice came from behind me.
“Dad!” Archie exclaimed.
“Sorry,” Conrad said. “Come on, Kit. I’ll put on some tea.”
“I should stay with Ellie,” Kit sniffed, but I shook my head. “I’m fine, Kit. We can talk later.”
Her lip wobbled, but when Conrad pulled her to standing, she dissolved into tears, falling against him.
Conrad’s neck grew flushed, but he cleared his throat.
“Come on,” he said, his expression tight. “I’ve got all the kinds you like.”
She nodded and let Archie take her hand as they walked down the stairs.
Conrad patted my head like the big brother he was. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Thanks, Con. For everything.”
He grunted, which made me smile.
Archie called back to me, “Tommy’s grandma says maybe we can all go bowling for Tommy’s birthday when Sam’s feeling better!”
“Archie,” Conrad warned. “Give her some space.”
“It’s fine, honey,” I said. “If not tonight, for sure soon.”
Archie grinned. “Bye!”
“Bye guys.”
I sat there a moment longer, letting the sun warm my face. Then I heard more footsteps behind me. Tommy stood at the top of the stoop.
“Oh honey, come here.” I reached up and took his hand, sitting him down next to me. “I’m so sorry your birthday went sideways.”
Tommy shrugged. “It’s fine. It wasn’t like I had any friends here.”
My heart sank.
“I do have one, though.”
I blinked. “A friend?”
He nodded. “At school. She’s newer than me.”
She.I tried not to freak out.
“Bowling sounds good though, right? Maybe you could invite her?”
Tommy shrugged. “Maybe.”
He was making not freaking out extremely difficult.
“I want Sam to be there though.”
I squeezed his hand. “Okay. It’ll probably have to be later then.”
