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"I know. I'm just keeping an eye on him. That's pretty much my job now." She crossed her arms and tried to look casual, but the information Sara had imparted had her upset. She didn't know how to handle this situation because she knew squat about kids.
"He's just a kid."
"What do you know about kids?" she challenged, lifting her chin. “And besides, neither one of us knows what he's gone through these past months. The counselor at the rehab center said Claren was strung out on a lot of stuff. I don't know what she did or didn't do for Charlie. I should have known, but I didn't. I failed him, and I refuse to do that now, again."
"Bull...uh, feathers. He was not your responsibility.”
"He's my brother. I should have checked on him more. I should have known Claren was using again. I didn't help him then, but I'm putting him first now. The kid deserves to have someone put him first."
Jake studied her in the harsh overhead light of the hall, making her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and moisten her lips. She had forgotten to put on some lip balm, and the first true cool front had passed through town, drying the air out and making her lips chapped.
"I understand," he said, reaching out a hand but then drawing it back. "You're a good person, Eva. I'm proud of you for being so concerned about y0ur brother."
He said it as though he confirmed something in his head. She couldn't guess what that was because while on the surface Jake seemed open, he was definitely closed off. But she could see he'd reached a conclusion. Maybe he saw the reason in her words the night before. Maybe he understood this was bigger than wanting a few rolls in the hay with some one. That the kid was more important than that. That giving Eva security and support was important not just for her, but for Charlie. That he couldn't risk becoming a slave to desire any more than she could remain chained to hers.
Impasse.
''Thank you," she said, craning her head again, spying Charlie scooting away from the table. "I better go. He has school tomorrow."
"Later," Jake said, moving toward the exit, making her wonder if he'd only stayed for her. The idea he'd waited to see her warmed her, made her feel… cared for.
Eva made it to Charlie before he could scamper down the hall with Will and Wyatt toward the children's ministry wing.
"Time to go, good-time Charlie."
"Awww, man. Just a little longer. Please."
"Nope. School tomorrow and we have to do some reading tonight so you can take your AR test"
"I don't want to read. It's stupid."
"Charlie," she warned.
"I'm staying," he said, crossing his arms and glaring at her. His chin jutted out and the mulishness in his eyes looked familiar. Monroes weren't known for their bending nature.·
"No, you aren't. We're going home now and you're not making a scene." She glanced at the people around her who already cast apprehensive glances toward them.
"Makeme," he screamed, ripping himself away from the hand she'd placed on his shoulder. Eva felt the shock of the people around her. Conversations died. People looked at them.
Eva lowered her voice, stooping down to eyeball her brother, whose face had turned red. "Don't do this, Charlie. Please."
"I hate you. You make me do everything,” he yelled, darting past her toward the double doors leading to the hall. He ran into an older lady, lurched to the left, and then the right, like a football player running toward the end zone.
And then his feet left the ground as an arm swooped in to stop him.
Jake.
Charlie kicked, but Jake merely lifted him off the ground, tossed him over his shoulder and moved back toward Eva. Everyone in the place watched, wide-eyed.
Charlie burst into tears, bellowing for his mother.
Jake ignored him and stopped in front of Eva.
He laughed, smacking Charlie on the bottom playfully. "I believe I caught something of yours."
Eva managed to smile, though the lump in her throat felt suspiciously full of tears. She rolled her eyes. "He's always trying to make a break for it. Who knew being an evil stepsister was so hard?"
A few folks sent relieved glances and went back to talking quietly. Out of the comer of her eyes she saw Fancy set a platter of cookies on the table next to the coffee urn and start toward them.
