“Anyway, he got too far out, and the tide was carrying him further. I was already out there, so I swam to him and pulled him back.” Noah glanced her way.
“Impressive.”
“It wasn’t a big deal, but my mom went on like I’d saved his life. And my dad…” There was a pause, a sigh. “He took my shoulders and crouched down to meet my eyes and told me he was proud of me for protecting my little brother. That this was what big brothers did.”
“Sure, when Jasper was five. When he was fifteen, you were only eighteen. It wasn’t your job to save him. And certainly not when he was in his twenties. He was an adult.”
“Still my brother.”
“Well, yeah.” She considered her words carefully, not wanting to offend him. “I used to take care of Kenzie a lot. But if I still felt responsible for her…I can’t even imagine.”
“It’s not so easy to turn off.”
Delaney watched Charlotte jog from the swings to the slides. “Children need to be protected. You’ve got to trust grown-ups to figure out their own lives.”
“It’s different with Jasper.” Mr. Aylett seemed to be working through something, so she didn’t argue. After a few moments, he continued. “We were on the boat, celebrating his fifteenth birthday. Dad was letting him pilot. He and Mom had gone belowdecks to make lunch. Jasper was a good sailor, but his friends were there, so he started showing off. He lifted the main sail. It was windy, and we started flying. I wasn’t paying attention. I’d invited this girl, and she had on this little…” Hesighed. “Doesn’t matter. The point is, I should’ve been paying attention. Dad must’ve felt the speed because he came charging up the stairs, yelling at Jasper. Right when Jasper was shifting the boom.”
“Oh, no.” Delaney didn’t know much about sailing, but she knew enough that worry pooled in her midsection.
“Yeah. Dad got hit. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket. He went over and just…sank.”
She gripped his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
He looked at her hand, and she pulled it away, embarrassed that she’d touched him.
“Jasper blamed himself.” Mr. Aylett sighed, the sound seeming to come from deep inside. “I blamed him, too, at first. But it wasn’t Jasper’s fault. Dad didn’t follow his own rules—always observe the deck before you move, always wear a life jacket. Dad let his anger distract him, and it cost him his life.”
Her heart hurt for what Mr. Aylett and his family had gone through. “But all that logic didn’t change how Jasper felt.”
“No.” He stretched his legs and shifted, moving a few inches away from her. “He’s never been the same. And yeah, what happened after that is partially my fault. I should never have said the things I said.”
“You were a kid.”
“I was eighteen.”
“So, a kid. And you were grieving too. You can’t take responsibility for everyone.”
“I should’ve?—”
“Noah.” She hadn’t meant to use his first name, but it slipped out.
He faced her, a thousand emotions playing in his eyes, there and gone before she could name them.
“At some point, Jasper has to be responsible for himself and his own choices. That’s not your problem.”
His gaze drifted back to Charlotte, so hers did too.
A group of kids had come, their shouts and screams a cacophony disturbing the quiet.
“I told him I wanted to adopt her.”
Delaney whipped her attention back to Mr. Aylett. “Wow. That’s quite a commitment. But, let’s face it, you’re already her father. You definitely should.”
“He shut me down. Swears he’s going to figure it out.”
“Oh.” She turned back to the playground, disappointed for Noah and the sweet little girl who loved him so much. She was about to ask what Jasper’s plan was, but Heather was rushing toward them.
“Sorry I’m late!” She reached the bench, her gaze flicking to Mr. Aylett. “You brought reinforcements.”
