AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Brayleigh should come first. I believed that but did that mean I could not pursue anything that might make her uncomfortable? Was it not enough to provide for her every need and most of her wants? To love her with all my heart? Must I also give up my dreams? My ambitions?
Did I give enough? Maybe I wasn’t giving enough. How could I possibly measure ‘enough’?
“I know I’m not out there saving lives, mom, but my job puts food on the table and pays for the roof over our heads. I hope you respect that at least.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Of course, I respect that. I’m proud of you. I just don’t want you to be alone!”
“Okay, Maureen. Enough. I understand your concerns. Hope understands your concerns, and I dare say she shares most of them-”
“Then why-”
“For the same reason anyone else pursues excellence. She’s good at her job.” He turned to me. “I’m proud of you, peaches. You’re a wonderful mother and it looks like you’re cleaning up at work as well. Nothing more I could ask for but this one thing. If it turns out it’s not what you want, don’t stick with it.”
“I won’t,” I immediately promised.
He dipped his chin and looked at me closely. “Don’t make any financial changes that make you dependent on the higher income until you know it’s where you want to be.”
“I won’t,” I promised, struck by the wisdom of his words.
For the first time, I wondered at the true cost of this house.
Warrior, Witch, Mother, Siren
Hope
Raiden, Lucky’s older brother, greeted me at the door. “Hey, Hope.” He reached to relieve me of the weight of my casserole dish then ruffled Brayleigh’s hair. “Hello, squirt.”
She looked past him, craning her neck to scan the family room and the source of all the noise.
“She just ignores me,” Raiden complained. “Every time.”
“Aw, big brother,” I teased as I released Brayleigh to the wilds. “You’ve always had a problem with the ladies, haven’t you?”
When we were kids, I had the wildest crush on him, but he’d never seen me as anything other than Lucky’s best friend. Even the early appearance of my D-cups failed to gain his attention. When I realized it would never happen, I began calling him big brother. As much to remind myself of the hopelessness of my quest as to tease him. And now, the idea of being with him was practically incestuous.
“Don’t you think I have enough sisters?” He slung his free arm over my shoulders and gave me a squeeze, then leaned in conspiratorially. “But you’re my favorite.”
“I’m totally telling Ava,” I teased.
His thick eyebrows rose theatrically. “Don’t. She’s the only one who scares me.”
I laughed and nodded approvingly. “She’ll appreciate that.”
He released me on a laugh, and we parted ways. He headed to the kitchen where Lucky’s eldest sister Daniela held court, and I stepped into the family room, currently overflowing with bodies. Lucky’s three other sisters, Darcy, Tracy, and Ava sat around a small card table playing a spirited game of UNO with Tracy’s husband Sean.
Daniela’s oldest son Rafael sat on the floor with Tracy and Sean’s toddler girls. Wrapping them up in blankets like baby burritos, he took turns spinning them out before cocooning them once more.
Darcy’s tweens, Abby and Ben slipped past me to head to the basement and Rafael’s old X-box, casting barely a glance in my direction.
Our hosts for the evening, Daniela and Carlos, as well as their girls, Isabella and Rosa, worked in the kitchen. Lucky and Minty were late as usual.
Raiden came back from the kitchen, and Rafael quirked a dark brow, asking, “How’s it going in there?”
Raiden shook his head. “100% do not recommend going in there. How do you get out of it?”
Rafael dipped his head to the girls with a smirk. “Baby duty.” He shrugged. “Besides, you know Mom is very particular about who she lets help with cooking and set-up. Isabella and Rosa wish they could exhibit my level of ineptitude.”
Daniela ruled her kitchen with an iron fist. Whenever the family came over, only Carlos, Isabella, and Rosa, were permitted entry. The girls, aged twenty and eighteen, regularly butted heads with their strong-willed mother, probably since they very much took after her. It did nothing to weaken the bond between them. After dinner, Daniela happily stepped aside to allow everyone else to take care of the clean up while she and her girls sat back, usually with a glass of wine.
