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What? “No. But I won’t take your money when I can’t do the work.”
“Will you stay here or go home for a while?”
Home.Can I say I’ve come to think of Layton’s house as my home? Does that sound like I’m glomming on to him?
“I miss the sound of the waves and I sure wouldn’t mind some time in the sand, but I promised Layton I’d be here. So, I’ll be at the lake. That said, I have no job and at least four weeks by myself, so I’m all about pool buddies or lake buddies, and anyone who wants to go for a walk.”
“I don’t want to be rude…” Brighton begins but immediately contradicts herself. “But you’ve been here a month. At most. Why would you”—she uses air quotes—“‘be at the lake’ in my brother’s home when he’s not there?”
“Brighton,” Braxton snaps.
At the same time, Pop exclaims, “Brighton Alexandra.”
“I think it’s a fair question,” I reply quietly. “Do you really want an answer? Or are you simply lashing out because you’re angry and protecting your brother?”
“Yes.” Bright drags her hands onto her hips and raises her eyebrows in a gesture of impatience.
“I love the second one. My sister isn’t much for protecting me. She thinks she knows best, but that’s about her, not about me. You’re free to lash out too. This isn’t a light thing your family is going through. I’d ask that you not be cruel, though.”
Silence has fallen over the room.
“But as for the first, I’m in love with your brother. And he says he loves me. But that’s not why I’ll be at the lake. I’ll be there while he’s away because he asked me to be. And with all I fear he’ll deal with in the next month or more, it was one place I could give him peace of mind.”
She doesn’t reply, so I continue.
“I promise I’m not looking to pilfer the candlesticks and pawn them or anything. And, if you’re concerned, come for dinner. Or stay the night. Bring the dogs and your suit. Or bring a book and a blanket, whatever. You don’t know me, but I’d like that to change.”
“He’s my person.” Her reply is quiet and pained.
“I get it. Keep protecting him. I hope it won’t be long before you are comfortable that we’re on the same team.”
“Damn, she’s good,” Emberleigh stage whispers to Willa.
Pop stands. “What about his birthday?”
Here’s where my I’m-in-love-with-him-and-he’s-in-love-with-me speech hits the skids. I don’t know when Layton’s birthday is.
“We’re a few weeks out,” Braxton replies. “We have time to make a plan.”
“A plan for what?” Elias says as he and Exton walk back into the room. “I’m sure it’s not Willa’s delivery. Exton probably has GPS routes based on time and traffic ready to go and has for months.”
“What happened to a home birth?” Braxton’s grin shines across his face.
“What in the world?” Willa retorts.
“Oh, he never told you? He suggested you should have a home birth with your kids.” He turns to his younger brother. “Was that only a year ago?”
“Nope. Nuh-uh. Negative. Drugs. All the drugs. In a sanitized hospital where they do this day in and day out. No doula. No midwife. No ‘breathe through the pain.’ Ep-i-du-ral.” She enunciates the last word.
“Hear, hear,” Emberleigh says.
“You’ve got that right,” Bright adds.
“Home birth, my ass,” Willa continues, but under her breath as if to herself.
“It was a moment of desperation,” Exton says to Braxton.
Braxton beams. “Well, the womenfolk aren’t fighting anymore.”
