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Both she and Dutch stopped talking and listened in on the conversation. Jake hit the speaker button.
"So how's Charlie doing?”
Oh, he's great," Dan Beauchamp said, sounding slightly out of breath. " We just got through playing a little basketball. Now he's doing his homework with your mother. Just a worksheet or something."
"What about emotionally? Like, is he upset?" Jake asked.
"Naw, he's been eating oatmeal cookies, helping your mother make dinner, and playing ball. He didn't look happy about homework, but once your mother told him Wyatt and Will were coming over for dinner, he ran for his backpack. He's right as rain.”
Eva clasped a hand against her chest as relief flowed through her. ''Thank God."
Dutch gave her the "told you so" look and went back to tapping on his phone, playing one of those addictive-as-crack games on Facebook.
Jake pocketed his phone. "Feel better?"
"Yeah." She sighed. The engine swung into the station a few minutes later and they scrambled out, peeling off their gear before doing routine maintenance on the engine. Later Jake and Dutch would wash the truck down, and Eva would inventory the equipment, making sure everything was in place and functional. Being a good department with high ratings meant being prepared and efficient. By the time Eva completed her tasks, it was nearly Charlie's bedtime.
She called to check on him and Fancy answered on the first ring. "Hey, Eva."
"Hi. Is Charlie doing okay?"
''Of course. He completed all his homework, ate most of his dinner, and brushed his teeth without my asking. He's a delight and I'm so glad you're letting him visit."
"Fancy, I can't thank you enough."
"Oh, pish posh. I love having Charlie here. He's an awesome kid."
Eva could tell that her brother likely stood right beside Jake's mother, and no doubt the kid grinned ear to ear to hear himself described in such glowing terms. Charlie needed that. He needed to hear people thought he was awesome...that he was worthy. "Can I talk to him?"
"Here, Charlie, it's your sister?”
"Hey, Eva. Guess what?"
Eva smiled and propped her socked feet on the ottoman. Jake and Dutch were still messing with the truck, which meant she got the primo spot on the comfy couch and control of the clicker. She pressed the power button. "You ate all your peas."
"Gross. We didn't eat peas. I get to sleep in Jake's room."
"Oh, cool. Better watch out for his dirty socks. He leaves them all over the station."
"No, he doesn't," Charlie said, his tone reproachful. So here it was, the utter hero worship of Jake. She could relate, though the dirty sock thingwasa deterrent
"He has some cool trophies and stuff. He played basketball, too. His dad said he was a point guard. Do you know what that is?"
"Not really, but I bet you want to try that position, too."
"Yeah. You have to be a good shooter. I've been practicing with the rev."
The rev?
Jake walked in, plopped down on the couch beside her, and reached over to grab the clicker out of her hand.
"Well, that's good, Charlie. Keep practicing with the rev and you'll be the best on your team this year." She shook her head at Jake and held fast to the remote control.
"Please?" he mouthed.
She knew he wanted to watch football, but she was set on watchingDancing with the Stars.It was their normal Monday night struggle, though it was usually solved by whoever got the remote first.
''No," she said.
