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"You don't control people that way, and you certainly don't use any form of violence against them. I had to learn that the hard way. I went to the principal's office for what I did. Not fun."
"Wow," Charlie breathed, his eyes widening. "You got sent to the principal's office?"
"Yeah." Eva ruffled Charlie's hair. ''And this isn't just about Drew and what you said to him. It's also about what happened at the church."
"I was really mad at you," Charlie said, twisting his fingers in the blanket covering his bed. "I wanted to hit you."
"I know, but you can't do that, either. Being a kid is hard. The good thing is that you have people to talk to. And if you don't want to talk to me about something, tell Dr. Hebert. She's good at knowing what a person should do when they feels like you did. I wish I had had her when I was a kid."
"You do?"
"Yeah, someone to listen to what upsets me and then help me figure out what to do? That's gravy."
Charlie gave her a smile. "My tooth's loose. See?"
Nice diversionary tactics. Must be a male thing. "I see. We'll have to put the tooth fairy on standby."
"I might get five dollars. That's what Ezra Gerard got for his front tooth."
"So there's a going rate, huh? Well, let's see what the fairy brings when it happens."
For the rest of the week,Eva had tried to focus on her brother and what he needed. After talking to Macy at the counseling center she better understood Charlie's emotional fragility. Macy had suggested she register her brother for fall soccer. Practice had already begun, but since Dutch coached his daughter's team, he was able to get Charlie on his team. So after buying cleats and shin guards at Triumph's Sports store, it had been merely a matter of getting the kid to practice. Charlie had seemed pumped to attend his first practice, but had had a meltdown when he didn't kick a goal.
Up and down, round and round. Child rearing wasn't for wimps.
But watching Charlie's pride at scaling the rock wall gave her a glimpse into why being a parent was so rewarding.
The last few handholds were far apart, but Charlie had nearly reached the top. Eva held her breath as the child reached up as high as he could toward the red buzzer. His fingertips brushed the bright plastic button, and Eva rose on her tiptoes as if she could help him.
"Come on, kid," she whispered under her breath.
He stretched, his mouth open, and finally his fingers pressed. A tinny buzz sounded and then Charlie let go, falling back.
"Ahhhh," Eva screeched, darting toward the base of the rock-climbing wall, her arms uplifted. Adrenaline surged through her before she comprehended he was fallingveryslowly. She felt stupid, dropping her arms.
Clint rolled beside her. "He's strapped in."
"I know. Just a reaction."
Clint smiled gently, taking her hand and giving it a pat. "You're turning into a mother hen, E."
Eva gave an embarrassed smile. "I'm all he has right now. I have to be afraid for him."
Jake flanked her other side, flashing a thumbs-up at Charlie as his little feet hit the ground.
"Woo hoo," Charlie yelled, thrusting his fist into the air. "I did it"
"You totally did," Eva called out.
The guy running the rock wall helped Charlie out of the harness, giving him a high five before he ran to where she stood with Clint and Jake. The kid danced with exuberance- it made Eva's heart smile.
"Can I go get my face painted? Please."
Eva nodded, handed him one of the tickets she'd purchased and watched him zoom off with Birdie, who had finished her sno-ball and had struck the "I'm bored" posture so familiar with teens.
"Jake, do you mind if l have a moment alone with Eva?" Clint asked.
Jake stiffened, casting a puzzled look at Clint. "Uh, sure."
