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Each month, Liam worked a twenty-day stretch, followed by ten days off.During those ten-day periods, he’d helped Grandma Gin move to a senior living apartment and made improvements to her house.Selling it at top dollar would help keep a roof over Grandma Gin’s head.In return, she’d insisted on staying with the boys at the house while Liam worked.
“So soon?”A spark of panic flared in my chest.Those ten days Liam was home, I had a friend around.He not only called, but he stopped in.I sucked in a calming breath.I’d always have Liam and the boys, no matter where he lived.
I’d miss his regular visits though.
His deep chuckle wound through the phone and eased my anxiety.“It’s been over three years since I moved back, Kenny.”
“I know, it’s just… It’s been nice having you around.”If for only ten days at a time.“Look at what you’ve done with the place.”The old ranch house on his grandparents’ land hadn’t been maintained as well as it could’ve been, as Liam’s grandparents had worked to raise him and run a ranch in their golden years.Then Grandpa Bob had gotten sick and things had fallen apart.“It will be so nice when you can be with Eli and Owen more, though.”
“I know.I haven’t even touched the whole before- and after-school issue yet.It was hard enough to find day care after I won full custody from Payton.That’s why moving home worked so well.Grandma Gin saved me as much as I helped her.But I don’t want them to start kindergarten in Coal Haven.They don’t need to deal with the bullshit I did.”
The bullshit had stemmed from one man.Cameron Barron liked flexing his power and showing his illegitimate son how he wished Liam hadn’t been born—never mind that Cameron had been the one to have the affair that resulted in Liam’s birth.
Cameron wanted nothing to do with him, and he expected everyone in his circle of friends, family, and acquaintances to behave the same.Derek was the only one who’d defied Cameron.
“Well, I’ll miss all of you.”I loved being with him and the boys.To them, I wasn’t Kennedy the Widow.I was Kenny, their dad’s friend, who coerced them to eat green beans once in a while but also let them destroy the bathroom during bath time.
Liam had shamelessly used them to help bring me back into the land of People Who Got Off the Couch and Showered.
“What are you up to today?”He asked the same question every weekend he was home.Today was Saturday, and since he worried when I didn’t have my Monday-through-Friday job to motivate me, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he knew I was doing okay.
I hadn’t showered yet, but only because I planned to work around the house all day.
And maybe because I was packing up Derek’s clothing.
“I have some cleaning to catch up on.You raked for me last fall, but I was going to see if the lawn needed some attention before Bruce came over and did it.”I’d told Derek’s dad, Bruce, that I could take over lawn care now that all the snow had melted, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I got home from work one day to find my lawn had been neatly tended to.
Bruce Barron had been second to Liam in taking care of me.Derek’s mom, Willow, and Bruce checked on me each week and took care of any repairs, like a clogged garbage disposal.They did what needed to be done.Especially when my neglect of myself and my house had gotten too bad.
After being sick through so many of my high school years, I had thought I’d gotten stronger.Until I had found myself alone and unable to keep a one-person household going.Those days were done.They had to be.That was what this closet cleaning was about.No one was going to do it for me, so I hadn’t told anyone my plans.
“What else are you doing?”Liam asked.
I scowled.When did Liam’s bullshit meter get so sensitive?“I’m…sweeping.”
There was a knock at the door.I jumped, dropping the maroon polo I was in the middle of folding.It wouldn’t bother me to give that one away.Derek had complained the tag itched but he’d refused to cut it off, and, in turn, had never worn it.
“Can I call you back?”I didn’t want to get off the phone with Liam.I wanted him to talk to me through this whole closet-cleaning process.“Someone’s here.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Liam.I’m fine.”I scrambled off the floor, holding the phone with one hand and tugging my shirt down with the other.It used to be roomy, but my venture back into the workplace had come with an increased appetite.I’d gone from unintentional calorie restriction to tasty overload thanks to the teachers’ lounge and its constant parade of goodies.
I didn’t bother to check who was at the door.It was Coal Haven, North Dakota, population 2200.There weren’t any surprises when it came to who might be at the door.Could be the mail.Another delivery from Mom, who thought I was still too withdrawn to go to the grocery store.For the last year, I’d received deliveries of dried goods.I had more rice than I could eat in a lifetime.But it was probably Bruce.He hadn’t stopped by for the weekend yet.
I whipped the door open, my mind whirling about what to tell Bruce.I didn’t know how he’d handle it if he knew I was packing Derek’s things.He never called first, and maybe I should’ve thought of that when I’d started.Or maybe I hoped that Bruce would notice how much better I was and he’d start calling or messaging before he popped in.
The man on my doorstep was not Bruce.
Where Bruce was six feet tall, this man was a couple of inches taller, with wider shoulders and a chest hard enough to bounce a quarter off.His unrepentant grin was all Liam.
I slammed my hand onto my hip as delight almost had me jumping into his strong arms; I wasn’t normally a girl who did that.But he’d catch me.Liam wouldn’t let me fall.“I can’t believe you!”
Liam spoke into his phone but grinned at me.“Believe it.”
I mock glared at him and hung up.I shoved the phone into the pocket of my sweats.Ugh.Of all days not to shower.
I wasn’t usually self-conscious around Liam.He’d seen me at my worst.I was no longer there, but my hair was up in a messy bun, and not the trendy kind.Strands hung over my eyes and down my neck, looking as spindly as the dried flowers I hadn’t had the energy to throw out for weeks after Derek’s funeral.I was wearing an old sports bra that didn’t hide as much as it should under the snug T-shirt.And my sweats needed a trip through the washing machine, like, yesterday.
