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It wasn't as if she had lived a totally selfish existence, but she'd never really had to put anyone before herself. With Charlie she had to think that way, and more important, she felt that way.
"Can I have some more of that cake tonight?"
Eva would have to actually bake a cake for that to happen. "Only if you help me bake it."
"Well, I ain't watching TV, am I?" he said, his words dry as sand.
Eva smiled. "Guess not."
12
JAKE WATCHED his brother cast his crank bait perfectly, hitting the water along the lily pads with a light splash. So he threw in right beside Matt… mostly because he knew it bugged the shit out of his controlling older brother. And that was Jake's job-to be the cockroach tossed into the middle of a sleepover. He kept things stirred up and exciting in their family. One way or another.
"Stop."
Matt was a man of few words. That was why Jake fished with him.
"What?"
His brother just gave him the look.
Matt was the oldest of the Beauchamp children. Solid, reserved, and always right. That was Matt's role. He was the rock, totally sensible and boring, if truth be told.
After a few more casts and Jake missing when a fish struck his bait, they cranked up and headed back toward the boat launch. The sun glowed, turning the scanty clouds a bright persimmon against the lightening horizon. Nothing was prettier than a Louisiana lake at sunset. It was as if God got swaggy with it, showboating with his paint palette. Made a man almost speechless at times.
"Want to try over there before we load up?" Matt asked, pointing to a small slew where they'd had luck earlier in the summer. He slowed the boat.
"Sure."
Matt motored over, and they cast a few times. "Thanks for letting the boys come to Charlie's birthday sleepover. I guess the kid's really looking forward to it. And it means a lot to Eva."
Matt grunted.
"She's really got her hands full with him. He's a cute kid, though."
"It's a good thing, what she's doing for him. Lots of relatives wouldn't have stepped up in such a situation, especially if they're single and work odd hours like Eva does."
Jake nodded. "She's good with him. Guess most women are good with kids."
"Most."
"Is Mary Jane okay with the kids missing time with her?"
Matt shrugged.
His brother had been married for twelve years to the woman he'd met at a Kappa Sig fraternity party. Matt hadn't been in a frat but after having injured his knee and ending his college career, he'd been feeling down. So his best friend had cajoled him out the door and across town to the party where he literally ran into the blonde coed. Mary Jane had actually laughed at the dent he'd put in her Cabrio, and Matt had fallen head over heels for a woman who could laugh at something he considered some what serious.
But last year something had changed in their marriage. Mary Jane had left for a job in New Orleans and so far the weekly marriage counseling sessions didn't seem to be working. Or at least not on the surface. Mary Jane still lived in New Orleans. And his brother still moved to the family camp when she came to Magnolia Bend to visit the boys on the weekend.
"What do you think about Eva?" Jake asked. He blinked that he'd even asked that question of his brother. So stupid.
"What do you mean? Like as a mother?"
"Uh, sure."
Matt reeled his line in then turned to Jake. "Or do you mean as a woman?"
''No. Not like that," Jake said, but he knew his words were hollow.
