“Hey,” I call out, weaving between the stacks of wood and nearly tripping on them as I make my way toward him. With my attention on him, I nearly trip to my death but fall into my brother’s open arms.
“Goddammit, woman, you’re going to drag me to an early grave with your clumsiness.” He glances down at me, brows knitting. “You’re supposed to be on maternity leave.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be for another few months. I’m already barely working. I have to get some things in order first,” I say, forcing a smile at the scolding I’m about to get.
He releases me, brushing sawdust from his shirt, but his eyes narrow in on me. “What do you need, Monroe?”
Here we go. I knew this would not be easy, but I don't like the way the conversation about Raven ended yesterday.
I fiddle with the strap of my bag, nervous to meet his stare. “About Raven…”
“Monroe,” he groans, “I already gave you my answer.”
“And I don’t accept it. Look, I know this isn’t ideal, but it’s temporary. She’s going to be homeless in a matter of weeks, and I can’t let that happen.” His jaw flexes, but understanding dawns in his tight-lipped expression. “I like Raven, and despite what you may think about her, she doesn’t come with a heap of chaos like me.”
His shoulders slump slightly as the situation settles upon him. The corners of his eyes crinkle as a flicker of a smile threatens to break through his controlled demeanor. However, he stays quiet. It’s the fact that he’s not immediately sending me out of here with another growl that I call progress. “It’s just for a few months, at least until she can save up some to afford to pay rent in Crossroads, which you know is not easy.”
“I don’t want a charity case.”
“She’s not. She will pay what she can. She’s still working at Stingers, and since she’s not in school, I’m thinking of bringingher on board at Monroe Avenue, and starting to train her to take over when I’m out.”
He scoffs incredulously. “On top of living with her, you want me to give her a job.”
I take a breath to gather my jumbled thoughts. My brother is known as the only Bishop this town tolerates, and it’s because of his kind-heart hidden deep beneath the grumpy caveman. He’s selfless and compassionate. Has given so much to this town that’s done nothing but hurt his family without second-guessing. Why he’s acting so cruel towards Raven, I don’t understand. “Look, this isn’t about me. It’s about her. She needs a place, Monty. A safe space, somewhere she can afford. She’s drowning right now.”
“I thought you just said she wasn't trouble. She can find somewhere else,” he mutters, reaching for his tape measure again.
“She can’t, not in time,” I say, stepping closer and reaching for his bicep. “And she won’t be freeloading. I told you, she’s taking over my clients while I’m on leave. She’ll be handling projects, running the day-to-day. She’ll be paying rent. I’ll make sure of it. This isn’t charity. It’s business. And it keeps her close so we can work together.”
He stays silent, pretending to double-check a beam that’s perfectly stable.
“Please,” I plead softly. “Just think about it.”
His shoulders tense. “You know I don’t like getting dragged into your messes, Monroe.”
“It’s not a mess.” My voice cracks, just a little. “I just want to be someone people can count on. Even if I’m still figuring out how to be that person myself.”
That finally makes him stop and look at me. His eyes turn to me, softening just enough to make me ache for him. He feels as if he has failed me. He was given the responsibility of taking careof me, and my brokenness is telling him he failed. It’s not his fault.
I smile through the sting in my throat, and wrap my arms around him. For a second he goes stiff, then he sighs and hugs me back. His embrace is solid and warm, like he’s been holding that hug back for months.
“You’re better at this than you think,” he murmurs into my hair, kissing me softly.
“Maybe,” I whisper. “But it helps to have you in my corner.”
“And what about Jase?”
I look up at my brother, tears welling in my eyes, with a few stray ones running down my cheek. “Him too.”
When we pull back, he kisses my temple again like he used to when I was little and says gruffly, “I’ll think about it.”
I know that’s as close to yes as Monty is ever going to give me, but I have a Plan B.
“Don’t think too long. I didn’t want to have to ask him since he's got a load of chaos that neither of us even knows how to begin fixing, but I know Beau will take her in if I ask him.”
“Fine,” he says with a loud grunt. “Three months, that’s all I’m giving her, and that’s being generous. She’ll stay out of my way, no funny business. And she won’t just be working for Monroe Avenue, she’ll be working for me if she’s going to be living rent free in my house.”
Well, that went exactly as I planned. Curious, how suddenly he didn’t have to think it over at all.
