AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Catching on to June’s logic, Bryce spoke. “Was it my fault Addison broke her leg? If I’d have been upstairs, maybe she wouldn’t have jumped off the bunk beds.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Cecily mumbled. “I told her not to, but she didn’t have her listening ears on.”
Even through the door she heard Addison click her tongue. “Only, I was testing my invisible wings that day, and my ears weren’t really part of that.”
“Don’t you see? Accidents just…happen. Nothing was your fault, Cici.” Bryce waited, but all was silent on the other side of the door. After a moment, she dug into her pocket and pulled out the item she’d grabbed from the trash. She knocked the silver saltshaker against the door, making a tinny metallic clink. “Hey, I found something at the fancy restaurant. It reminded me of you, Cecily. All of us, really. Can I come in and show it to you?”
Several gasps and a whispering flurry of conversation came from behind the door. Bryce was pretty sure she’d heard June argue to open the door, and was just as certain it was Addison arguing that opening the door for trash wasn’t as good as waiting until there was chocolate. Yet it was clear after a few minutes that the impasse was continuing.
“Give it to us through the door,” Addison said in her best Captain Hook voice, and the door opened a crack. Bryce slid the saltshaker through the narrow space, barely getting her fingers out of the way before the door slammed shut, locking again.
Slumping to the floor, Bryce gave the Paynes a wan smile as she directed her voice to the girls beyond the door.
“I left my station at work in Niagara Falls, and do you know why?”
“Because Nana and Pop-Pop called and tattled on us!” Cecily said, her voice hoarse. “We told them not to.”
“No, they didn’t tattle on you. I’m here because I saw that saltshaker in the garbage and figured something out.” Bryce leaned her head against the door, closing her eyes to best listen to her heart. “Your dad, Bentley…he used to collect things, too. As a plumber, it was useful—he’d keep spare parts from one job, like bits of pipe and washers and things—because he said you never knew what would come in handy and the next customer might need that exact piece to fix their sink, and it would save someone some money. When I saw the saltshaker in the garbage, I knew you’d want me to rescue it.”
There was the sound of snuffling from the other side of the door.
“Yeah,” came Cecily’s watery voice.
“You and your dad are alike in that way. Bentley was the best brother anyone ever had, and he was an amazing father. Heather was incredible, and I’ll never be the mom she was. I’ll never replace your parents. But my love for you three is as vast as the moon and stars. I came home because I’d rather be here, cooking for you three Weatherfords, than cooking for anyone else in the entire world.” Bryce blinked away tears. “While it isn’t fair that the accident happened and I’m here and they aren’t, you girls are the best gift I ever had. I’ll always miss my brother, but I feel blessed for this time with you. For making this new family together. We’re like this dented saltshaker—a little banged up, but still good. Me, your Nana and Pop-Pop—we love you all so much—”
Bryce’s voice caught, and she gulped back a sob, trying to work words around the lump in her throat.
Suddenly, the door fell open, pitching her off-balance. She fell into the room, into the arms of the three girls she couldn’t imagine life without, and then they were all hugging, all crying, all speaking at once.
“I missed you, Aunt Beamer.” Cecily squeezed her around the neck.
“Only,” Addison said, falling against her, “you can’t believe how good I can walk in these things. I’ve been practicing, so I’ll be able to use the steps at home. I miss my wings. And I missed you.”
June let her sisters crowd in first, but then came over when Bryce opened her arms wider. The tween hugged her, whispering in her ear. “I got my period again. It was awful without you, and I would’ve texted but my phone charger cord broke. We’ve…we’ve missed you so much. Can we go home?”
Home.
She’d said home. Not the apartment.
It wasn’t everything, but it was a start.
Bryce nodded her head, not bothering to hide the tears. “I’ve missed you all, too, and we can go home—but,” she amended her statement as her eyes cleared and she got the full picture of what the girls had done with the guest suite. A massive, ship-like structure dominated the room, balanced on the edge of the two twin beds, which showcased the number of empty containers and discarded clothes, toys, and wrappers underneath. “…but we need to pitch in and clean up first. And I think you need to give Nana and Pop-Pop a big hug and an apology. You gave them quite a scare. Nobody likes a mutiny in their house.”
The girls, surprisingly, did exactly as told, hugging their grandparents. Soon they all had garbage bags and suitcases and began to pile items in each to clear out the room.
Harvey pulled Bryce aside, his gray-whiskered face earnest as he spoke in a low voice.
“Adele and I…we thought we were up to the task of parenting our grandchildren, but these past few days have reminded us that two seniors in their sixties are no match for three Weatherford girls under the age of thirteen. At least, not full time.”
Adele chimed in, reaching for Bryce’s hand. “All this bickering between us…that’s not what Heather or Bentley would have wanted. We got caught up more in what we thought family should look like instead of what our granddaughters needed. We won’t…we won’t contest the guardianship.”
Bryce squeezed the older woman’s hand. “You weren’t the only one getting caught up in things. It’s pretty clear raising my nieces isn’t a one-person show, and someone very important to me said I need to learn to ask and accept help. I think, together, we can figure out a great arrangement for you, Harvey, and me—but especially for the girls. They need all of us in their lives, and I want to be sure the guardianship paperwork has written stipulations for your time with them. They are lucky to have you as involved grandparents.”
Adele’s eyes misted over. “Thank you, Bryce. We can say the same for you as their guardian.”
Just then the doorbell rang, and, noticing the mess of luggage in the hallway, Bryce held up a hand to the older couple.
“No need to scramble over this stuff. I’ll get that for you.”
