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“Well, Chris had a little accident yesterday. Don’t worry, he’s fine.”
“An accident? How?”
“He forgot your neighbor had a greenhouse built in her side yard and took the dirt bike for a spin.”
“He’s not supposed to ride the bike without adult supervision.”
Lucas started to mutter, “No shit” but bit down on the smart-ass comment. “I was inside wiping Charlotte.”
“Charlotte knows how to wipe herself.”
He allowed silence to speak for itself.
“She likes attention.” Courtney sighed. “I wish I could have given you a handbook instead of a page.”
“No shit.”
“Well, there’s one thing I know about you, Lucas—you’re highly competent. I know you’re not comfortable taking care of three headstrong kids, but you’ve always been the kind to dig in and not give up. I’m sorry I had to ask you, but with your parents in Europe, I…I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to farm them out to friends. No one is that good of a friend…” Her voice faded.
“I don’t know shit from shinola about raising kids, but we’re all making do. I can handle it.”
“What about the greenhouse? Is Addy pissed?”
“No. We’re working on the repairs now. Chris’s dirt bike is in the garage, and I’ve hidden the key. We’re good.”
“Apologize to Addy for me and keep the receipts for the repairs. I’ll make sure you’re reimbursed. I gotta go. The nurse just motioned for me.”
Lucas hung up, not feeling comfortable with continuing to lie to his brother’s children but having no recourse. It wasn’t his call.
Lucas walked to where Michael sat tapping on his phone and looked down at the kid. “Guess we better start demoing the damaged parts of the greenhouse. I’ll grab Chris since he caused this mess. Can you dig the shears out of the bag so we can cut away the torn plastic?”
Michael looked up, angry, feral, a dog cornered. “Get them yourself.”
Lucas wanted to reach out and take the kid by the neck and shake him. He tried to remind himself that the kid was frustrated by the entire situation, mouthing off because he couldn’t control his world. Or at least that’s what it had said in the article “Decoding Your Teen.” “I think you need to-”
“I think you need to leave,” Michael interrupted.
“I wish I could. You think I’m having fun?” Lucas turned and walked away before he did something he regretted. Like do what his own father would have done which was taken off his belt.
But he wouldn’t or couldn’t do that. So instead, he walked to the front of his brother’s house. Away from Michael. Away from Chris, Charlotte, and the dotty old lady trilling encouraging words to the kids. Away from Addy and her prickly demeanor.
He needed air. And space. And peace. And quiet.
And maybe some bourbon.
Addy set the orchids she’d gathered on the fresh newspaper she’d spread out. She’d wrapped the roots in the wet print and tucked them beneath the blooming azalea bushes framing the back stoop until she could safely replant them in pots. Thankfully, Cal, the guy who made gorgeous pottery along with inexpensive clay pots, had plenty of selection. She always liked the simplicity of terra cotta for orchids.
For the last few minutes, she’d tried to forget about Lucas and the guilt she felt over being overly defensive. She hadn’t meant to play the role of cactus, but the fear inside her over the stupid wildflower tucked beneath her windshield wiper had hooked into her gut and twisted her intentions. When fear came knocking, it was hard to not open the door. So she’d lashed out at Lucas, which was ironic considering her first thought at discovering the “gift” was to call Lucas. Something about the man with broad shoulders and hard jaw struck something within her, something that told her he could give her shelter.
But she had run from him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Lucas pocketing his phone and approaching Michael who sat sullenly beside the lumber. A few words were exchanged and then Lucas turned and walked away, moving to the front of the Finlay house. Toward his truck. Something in the slant of his shoulders had her dumping the orchids and following him.
Surely he wasn’t going to leave?
Sure, dealing with kids was tough, but he’d made a commitment, right?
He must have heard the crunching of the gravel beneath her feet, but he didn’t slow up or turn his head. She breathed a sigh of relief when he passed his big truck and hooked around the front of the house. Lucas climbed the front porch steps and sank into a rocking chair that needed a new coat of paint.
