I shook my head. “I understand that, but you can’t pay for everything. That’s… I’m not doing that.”
“Jade, you have quite literally run yours into the ground.”
“Insulting how I look is not going to get this conversation anywhere you want it to go,” I grumbled. I knew that I looked different from before. I had spent less time caring about my appearance and more time focusing on everything I needed to accomplish that day.
“I’m not insulting you.”
“Well, you’re not complimenting me,” I said.
Brandon rubbed a hand over his face. “My point is, you’ve worked so hard to provide for Ilsa. Let me help. Let me take care of it.”
The thought was tempting, but I knew better. It wouldn’t be fair to put the burden of everything onto Brandon. He had a house that was expensive to maintain, buying food wasn’t cheap, and daycare was sometimes highway robbery.
“Half,” I said. “You can pay for half. That’s fair.”
Brandon scowled. “That’s not fair.”
“It is, you have the house payment. I imagine that’s pretty hefty.”
Brandon took a step closer to me. “I get paid well, so don’t worry about what money I do or don’t have.”
I swallowed, taking in his strong, firm frame. I wanted to be disgusted, but I couldn’t. I inhaled his scent and felt my bodyheat at the close contact. I hated how my body reacted all these years later.
“Half is fair, Brandon. I’m not a charity case. Do not treat me like I don’t know how to handle things. I’ve done just fine taking care of myself and our daughter.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“That’s what it feels like,” I snapped back. “I struggled, but I made it work. She is happy and healthy. That is what matters the most.”
“And what about your needs?” he asked, tilting his head at me. I hated how he was looking at me, the way he had such a concerning look. It confused me. Why did he care? He was the one who left.
“They come last,” I stated. “She will always come first.”
“Well, that’s not happening anymore,” he said simply. “You and I have to work as a team for this to work.”
I knew that. I knew that we needed to get along. I knew that we were now living under the same roof and that it made sense to split the costs.
“This is new,” I sighed. “And this is going to take work.” I waved a hand between us. “Give me time.”
Brandon smiled, and it made my heart skip a beat. “I know. We will learn together.”
Chapter 9 - Brandon
I chewed on a piece of jerky while I stared at the plans for the next couple of days. I couldn’t get the conversation I had with Jade out of my head. The argument and the information that just came out so easily. She looked shocked after she stated that she’d done everything alone.
For three years, she’d taken care of Ilsa without help, while our parents continued living their lives. I had thought that they would have at least helped to make sure Ilsa was taken care of, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. The thought made me sick, trying to think of everything that she had to do to keep things going.
“Oy.” Kaleb waved a hand in front of my face. “Are you listening?”
I looked away from the papers and looked at him. Kaleb raised an eyebrow at me. “What are you thinking about so hard?”
“I ran into your sister in the woods yesterday.”
Kaleb shrugged. “And?”
“She was foraging and planning to sell it to make ends meet. Apparently, she’s been doing that for a while.”
Kaleb scowled. He opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut. He shook his head. “Of course she does. And I’m guessing she lied when I asked how things between dad and her were.” Kaleb shook his head and sighed. “That sounds about right.”
