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He wasn’t supposed to be standing on his leg for long stretches, but he at least wanted to get the backsplash installed. When he’d been home previously, he’d painted the walls from a sunny yellow to a muted mossy green with white trim. The new stainless steel appliances were ordered. It’d taken him nearly a year now, but soon the whole house would be remodeled.
The thought of selling the house had crossed his mind, but just as quickly, he dismissed it. The house was the last tangible connection to his parents. And as he’d already played a part in his parents’ death, he wouldn’t take anything else from his siblings. After fixing the house up, he could wash his hands of it and hand it over to his sister.
“Murr…” Marshmallow strolled into the kitchen. She sat down next to the kitchen table and let out a big yawn.
Avery smiled and shook his head. “It looks like you had a rough day.”
She walked over to him and rubbed against his legs. He bent over and scratched behind her ear. “Is this your way of letting me know it’s dinnertime?”
She glanced up at him and murred.
Avery checked the clock to find out that it was well past dinnertime. He grabbed a tin of cat food from under the counter. In no time, Marshmallow was devouring her meal.
Just then his phone rang. His first thought was that it was Jillian. At last, she’d decided to give him an answer. He knew he’d just asked her the day before, but if she wouldn’t help him, he had to find someone who would mentor him. So far, he hadn’t come up with any possibilities.
He pressed a button on his phone. Before he could get a word out, he heard Beth say, “Did you ask her?”
No hello or any other sort of greeting from his sister. It was typical for him to feel as though he’d just stepped into the middle of a conversation when Beth got excited about something.
Ev
er since his younger sister went off to college, she made it a point to keep tabs on him. It was as though their roles had been reversed. And then there was his brother who took off for the military and rarely phoned home.
Avery knew what his sister was asking—if he’d talked to Jillian about the Bake-Off. He hesitated, not liking being pushed.
“Avery?” Beth’s tone held a note of impatience. “You did ask Jillian to help you, didn’t you?”
He inhaled a deep breath and counted to five before he answered. “I did.”
“And?”
Marshmallow finished eating and jumped up on the table. She wasn’t allowed up there, but just like Beth, the cat didn’t listen to him all that often. The cat head-butted his hand until he started to pet her. And then a loud purr emanated from her.
He turned his attention back to the other insistent female in his life. “Did anyone ever accuse you of being pushy?”
“Yes. You. Now spill. What did she say?”
“Nothing.” He hadn’t heard a word from Jillian since he’d asked her to help him. He took the silence as her answer. She’d done enough for his family and she didn’t want to do any more.
“What do you mean nothing? She had to say something.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Beth, would you quit pushing this? Besides, I’m the big brother; I’m the one who is supposed to be asking the questions. So how are classes going?”
“Don’t change the subject. What did Jillian say?”
He might as well answer her, because he knew Beth wouldn’t let up until he did. “She said she needed to think about it.”
“And when was this?”
“Really? You’re going to keep grilling me?”
“Yes,” Beth said matter-of-factly. “When did you speak to her?”
“Yesterday. Now I’m done answering your questions,” he grouched. At that point, Marshmallow decided to make a quick exit. Perhaps his voice had been a bit harsh. He made a point of speaking in a less hostile tone. “Don’t you have a test to study for or some such thing?”
“Actually, I just finished. I’m walking back to my dorm room from the library.” She paused as though she’d just thought of something.
Avery inwardly groaned. It’d been a long day and he just wasn’t up for more. “I should let you go—”
