Page 87 of The Grump I Got Stuck With

Weston got up and walked to the door. “Call us when you quit being so confrontational.”

Locke followed him. “What he means is call us when you stop being a bloody arse.”

“Don’t hold your breath,” I muttered as Locke slammed the door behind them.

26

MADISON

“Can I have sprinkles?”

“On your apple slices?” I said, laughing as I put the snack down in front of Kenna on the kitchen island. “I think it’s a little early in the day to be covering your fruit in sugar.”

“Princess asked for it.”

“Oh, did she?” I tried and failed to hide my smirk as Kenna gave me a cheeky grin. Honestly, with how miserable she had been lately, seeing that grin was like seeing the sun come out after days of storm clouds. In light of that, would sprinkles really be the worst thing in the world? Footsteps drew near, and I turned my head, expecting to see Alistair. Instead, I spotted Weston and Locke. “Hey, you two! I didn’t realize you were here.” I teasingly gestured to the apples. “I would have made more snacks.”

Weston managed a smile, but it looked forced. Something was clearly bothering him. “Yeah, security let us in. Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Uncle Weston!” Kenna cheered. “Uncle Locke!” She climbed off her stool, racing right to them, getting Princess all excited. Locke swept Kenna onto his hip, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, gripping him like a tiny squid.

“We popped by to see Alistair, but…it didn’t go well,” Weston murmured as Locke distracted Kenna by talking about the artwork on the fridge.

“What happened?” I asked.

Weston sighed, weary. “I think he’s just on edge. Maybe we shouldn’t have come.”

I bit my lip, a swell of sadness gathering in my chest. It took everything inside me to stuff it back down. I wanted so badly to try to help, to make things right. But that wasn’t my place. Alistair had made that clear, and I had to accept his decision—even as it broke my heart.

Staying on as his nanny—I’d done that for Kenna. Because that little girl needed someone in her corner while her world was falling apart. But it was the hardest thing I’d ever done, and every morning I woke up feeling like the sadness and anger and frustration might strangle me. I cleared my throat. “So what now?”

“I have no idea,” Weston said, rubbing his jaw. “Anyway, he told us to get out, so we’re⁠—”

“We made sea glass, Uncle Weston!” Kenna cried suddenly, wriggling out of Locke’s arms.

“Hmm?” Weston said.

“Sea glass jewelry,” I corrected as Kenna raced over to the kitchen table to pick up one of the necklaces we’d made last week.

“I want to give it to Aisling,” Kenna said, hurrying back to show it to Weston. “Can we go to your house so I can see her?” She jumped, giggling excitedly. “Can we go now?”

My stomach twisted at her question. Locke scratched awkwardly at the back of his head.

“Ah, sweetheart,” Weston said, crouching down to her level. “I think it’s going to be a little while before you can come over and visit us. But I’d be happy to give it to Aisling for you.”

Kenna stared at him, her expression blank for a second, but I could see the tiny gears turning behind her eyes—all the tension, the new rules, constantly being told no. Her eyebrows crashed together, her lips pursed in anger.

“No!” she declared. “I want to be the one to give it to her. Aisling is my friend.”

“I know she is,” Weston said, trying to soothe her. “And she misses you a lot. Maybe you guys could chat on video?”

Kenna refused to be soothed, whirling around, fists balled up as she glared at me. “Why can’t I go?” she said, her lip starting to tremble. “I want to go play with Aisling.”

“I know you do, kiddo,” I said.

“I want to go now!” she said, finally bursting into tears. They rolled down her cheeks, and she rubbed furiously at her nose.

“What’s going on?” a gruff voice asked. Alistair appeared in the doorway.