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Mulaney stopped trying to get out of her husband’s grasp.
Stone, Muriella, Vivian, and Daniel halted as soon as they walked in on the scene.
“Everything okay here?” Stone asked, his focus on his sister.
“He just brings more havoc in our lives at every turn.” She glared in my direction.
I was outnumbered. And what was the point in arguing? I’d bought Drew some time alone with his mother, and that was good enough for me.
I crossed my legs and folded my hands around my knee. “I don’t want to cause problems.” The shock on their faces was worth backing down. “Loretta’s health is the most important thing, and whatever I can do to help, I’m willing.”
“Appreciate that,” Easton said gruffly.
“We always miss the good stuff,” Vivian said not so discreetly.
Muriella elbowed her in the ribs, but the faintest hint of a smile graced Daniel’s lips.
“Want to provide more entertainment?” I lifted a brow at Mulaney, and her stiff posture relaxed. “Arm wrestle after dinner?”
She scowled at me, and I was sure I heard her mumble the wordbitch. “You know what? You don’t give a shit about anyone but yourself. It’s what I expect from someone with Drew,” she said.
I shrugged, because she wasn’t wrong. I’d take that as a compliment.
I foundDrew in the bathroom with his mother, where she was huddled over the toilet. He held a damp cloth to her head and rubbed her back in a soothing rhythm.
Sam was by her side on the stone floor, his paw against her leg as if he wanted to comfort her. I’d missed the boy, but seeing him with Loretta made the time apart worth it. She needed him. And in some way, he needed her.
Knowing I wouldn’t want an audience while I was sick, I backed into the bedroom and sat in my usual chair. I had a perfect view of Drew. When the cloth was too cold, he warmed it. When it was too hot, he fixed that.
Loretta rolled off her knees and leaned against the cabinets. Drew and Sam sat on either side of her. He put an arm around her shoulders, and she rested her head on his chest.
Mr. Carter crept in but said nothing as he stood rigidly in the doorway. While I didn’t particularly care for the man, seeing him in such pain over his wife caused an ache in my chest. I’d never witnessed this kind of love and devotion and suffering. My parents loved one another but not like this. My father had never looked at my mother this way. How had Drew ended up the way he was with such an example of what a marriage should be?
“Bed,” Loretta said hoarsely.
Drew easily lifted her in his arms and gently set her on the mattress. He pulled the covers up over her. Then he boosted Sam up and scruffed behind his ears when he’d settled next to his mother.
I scrambled from the chair so Drew could take it.
“Want me to go get your sweatpants and a T-shirt so you can stay here with your mom?” I whispered.
He seemed startled I was still there but nodded. “And the briefcase.”
I kissed his cheek. His brows knit together, and I blinked at him, as surprised by the affectionate gesture as he appeared to be.
Sweetness wasn’t as bad as I’d thought.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sonya
Tap.Tap. Tap.
Drew glowed from the screen of his laptop in the darkness. His fingers flew, furiously tapping on the keyboard.
I stretched and yawned without him noticing, so I crawled out of bed and went to where he sat in the oversized chair of the room I’d commandeered in his parents' apartment.
He had headphones over his ears, the expensive kind from the looks of it. I lifted one and spoke into his ear, “Whatcha listening to?”
