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“Does Drew have any idea you did this?” Mulaney asked.
I fidgeted with the cross around my neck. “I-I don’t think so.”
“Ugh. I can’t even stand the thought of being in the same building as him, let alone related.” Mulaney made a disgusted face.
“He’s here? In this building?”No. No. No. No. No.
“He and the Carters moved in a few days ago,” Mulaney said.
The room spun as I tried to take in air. “I have to go.”
I held on to the wall as I stumbled back to the kitchen. Carlos immediately stood and rushed to steady me.
“Beauty?” He searched my face. His was fraught with worry.
I let him support me. So, so tired of it all. “It’s never going to end.” My voice was barely audible as I spoke to myself.
“What?” Carlos clasped my shoulders and looked as desperate as I felt.
“I don’t think I can stay here.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Carlos
“Did something happen with your brother?”
I’d never seen Holly this upset, and she’d had many a reason to be since I’d known her.
She yanked clothes off the hangers in her closet and stuffed them into a suitcase. “It’s always too good to be true. Just when I get comfortable it all goes to hell.”
“That’ll be a dollar, Mama.”
She wheeled around and dropped to her knees, holding out her arms for Gabriel. “I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered into his hair.
“It’s okay. H-E-double hockey sticks isn’t the worst.”
She snorted, still hugging him tightly.
“Why’re you packing?” The innocence of this boy was something I wished he could keep forever. “Do we have to leave?” he asked in alarm.
Holly sat on the floor and pulled him onto her lap. He was almost too big to fit. She stroked his back, and he rested his head against her shoulder.
I was an intruder on a private moment, yet I couldn’t bring myself to leave.
Gabriel motioned for me to join them on the floor. I looked at Holly for permission, and she gave a slight nod. I sat in front of them, my knee touching hers.
“I wanted to have a party with money from the jar, but if we need it so we can stay, you can have it.”
Holly let out a choked noise as a sheen covered her eyes. She kissed the top of his head. “You can keep the money,” she said hoarsely.
He was already so generous. She’d done an incredible job shaping him into the man he was becoming.
“Are we going on a trip? Like in a plane?” He perked up and looked at me in excitement.
“One day,” I said, vowing to keep my promise.
His mouth turned down. “Is that man going to come after us?”
