AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t want out,” he grumbles, and he’s still grumbling when I head back to the sales floor.
He cuts out of work early, which is fine. Gary and I can handle the customers. I leave an hour later on schedule and detour to the diner to let Cindy know I’ll be there in the morning. Then I head over to get Evie.
Normally, when I arrive to pick her up, she’s neck-deep in a project with one of her Dubs, either baking or crafting something with Lisa or helping Bill in his workshop.
Today, they’re all waiting for me on the front room sofa, looking serious, even Evie, who has Lisa’s iPad clasped to her chest.
“Hey,” I say, pulling the door closed behind me but not coming any farther into the house. Something is up. “What’s going on?”
“This is an invention,” Evie says.
Lisa pats her leg. “Very close, baby. It’s an intervention.”
Evie nods and looks at me, triumphant.
“I’m sorry, an intervention forwhat?” It’s not the kind of term a recovering addict takes lightly, especially not one who managed to seek help before getting to this point.
“I talked to your brother,” Bill says.
This clarifies nothing. “What does Noah have to do with this?”
Evie turns the iPad to face me, and I realize Noah is in on this too via FaceTime.
“Hey, Paige,” he says. I don’t answer. I only stare him down, and I hope he can feel my disapproval through the screen. “We’re here to pump the brakes because we love you.”
I throw up my hands. “On what? Can someone please explain this to me?”
“You’re addicted to independence,” he says.
My jaw drops. “Are you joking? I’m the least independent person in this room, plus your house, plus Tab and Sawyer’s house too.”
Evie raises her hand. “No, I am.”
“That doesn’t count, Eves. If you were the most independent person in this room, I’d be doing something wrong.”
“But you’re about to,” she says. Her voice is very small. Lisa slips an arm around her shoulder and hugs Evie to her side.
“What?” I hear the tremor in my voice. “What do you mean, Evie?”
“You’re going to work more,” she says in the same soft voice.
I shoot an accusing glance at Bill, who doesn’t flinch.
“Do you have to, Mama?”
Noah cuts in before I can answer. “No. You don’t, Paige. There’s nothing wrong with accepting help.”
“Especially because we want to give it,” Bill says. “You’ve been one of ours from the first day you worked in the store.” His voice is thick, unshed tears lurking in it. “It was obvious. We took you in with our whole hearts way before we did your brother.”
“Hey,” Noah objects.
“It’s true,” Bill says, not taking his eyes off me. “We know what it’s like to love and raise strong women. You came to us after already doing most of the hard work yourself, and we’re just trying to catch up. It breaks my heart that you hold us at arm’s length.”
The sadness in his voice nearly breaks mine. “I appreciate everything you do for me, Bill. Lisa, you know I do. How can I make you believe that?”
“By not acting like you’re keeping a ledger of everything you need to repay,” Lisa says. She gives Evie another squeeze and then slides from the sofa to come stand in front of me and take my hands. “If you’re doing that because otherwise you feel disloyal to your mom and dad, I understand. Is that it?”
“No,” I say, so surprised by this that the word almost explodes from me. “No, not at all.”
