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I nodded, remembering how upset she’d been when Nana talked about cleaning out things and potentially moving. “Is that what Nana wants, though?”
“Who knows?” He glanced over at me, then back to the road. “No one can tell that woman what to do. She has a mind of her own.”
When we’d gotten into trouble as kids, she had no problem speaking her mind. She wanted better for us.
Jake’s expression was pensive. “I just worry that Nana moving out and selling the house will be too much for Hailey. She doesn’t like change.”
I leaned my head back on the seat rest. “Who can blame her?”
Jake cleared his throat, and I sensed that whatever he was going to say was important. “Before Mom left us with Nana, we moved around constantly. We followed whatever whim she had. So, you’d think we would have been happy to be in one place when she left us at Nana’s, but instead, we felt abandoned.”
“I get that.” I studied Jake’s face, taking in every wrinkle in his expression and dip in his voice. He rarely spoke about this stuff.
“It was worse for Hailey. She was only six. She didn’t understand why her mother would leave her. At first, she waited at the window for her to come back. I think that broke Nana’s heart, even though she was tough with her, telling her she needed to pretend she wasn’t coming back.”
“That’s harsh.” But I understand why she did that. Hope was a dangerous thing when it was misplaced.
“It was the only way she could get Hailey away from that damn window. She’d sit on the ledge all day long. Wouldn’t eat or play.”
I soaked up every detail. I’d heard bits and pieces, but I never paid close attention.
“Nana was blunt with her. She said our mom left us here so we’d be able to go to one school, have consistency, and wouldn’t have to up and move every few months.”
“Was that true?”
Jake looked over at me with a rueful expression. “I honestly don’t know. I suspect Nana was sugarcoating Mom’s intentions. I think Mom only cared about herself and whatever she wanted. Nana was probably the one who convinced Mom to leave us with her.”
“You were probably better off.”
“Hailey’s pain was all-consuming. We sensed her despair, her loss, and I don’t think she ever got over it. Maybe this is Nana’s way of forcing her to deal with things. Get over it and move on.”
“Who says we have to deal with stuff? I’d rather just go forward.” That had been my motto since my father told me I was a disappointment to him. It started with refusing to play sports that he loved. I opted for technical classes in high school instead of college-preparatory ones, and then it ended with him telling me I was on my own.
“You’ll do better with Corey,” Jake said, bringing me out of my musings.
I chuckled without any humor. “I haven’t done a bang-up job so far.”
“What were you going to do, follow her around the country forever? It was time for you to do your own thing and open the garage. You can make a better life for Corey. If it’s successful, and she challenges custody, hopefully, the judge will see you as the steady one.”
“I don’t know about that.” We’d always had plans to open a garage one day. Getting Tiffany pregnant at eighteen delayed things. I wasn’t sure I’d ever do it until Jake convinced me to come back home.
Tiffany moved around to different boyfriends and jobs like they were interchangeable. I was grateful she’d sent Corey to live with me, even if it was more challenging than I initially thought. “Corey screwed up on my watch.”
“Maybe he’s learned his lesson.”
I’d hoped settling in Annapolis was my chance to make a real home for me and Corey.
“You’re not worried about him working with Hailey?” It was the one thing we hadn’t discussed.
Jake slowly shook his head. “I’m not happy about it, but I don’t think he’d hurt her.”
“Me either.” I infused as much confidence as I could into those two words. It was my responsibility to ensure nothing happened to her.
“Just keep an eye on them, okay? If my baby sister gets hurt—”
“I’ll make sure she’s safe.” It meant I’d be spending more time with her. The thought held more appeal than it had when we were kids. She was no longer my best friend’s annoying little sister. She was all grown-up with the body to back it up.
I blinked away the image of her kneeling on the floor in a white tank top that showed off her cleavage and cut-off jeans that left her long, tan legs on display. When she’d looked up at me, all I could think about was her lips wrapped around my cock.
