Just as she says it, I hear a loud crash in the living room, and Dad and Sylvie go to inspect it.
“I know. It was my decision,” is all I say. My parents would let me live with them forever if I needed to. Moving out was my way of putting space between me and Sylvie.
“Things are bad,” Mom whispers. “Levar is threatening to fight for full custody.”
I snort at that. Despite having three kids, I doubt Levar has ever changed a diaper.
“Your sister is a mess. She hasn’t worked in almost a decade and has no job prospects.” She puts her head in her hands, and I rest one of mine on her shoulder, only it’s soggy from the green food she’s been feeding my nephew.
“Where did we go wrong?” Mom stands with unshed tears in her eyes. “I told her to go to college, and if things were meant to be with Levar, they would work out, but he convinced her not to go. I’ll never forgive either one of them for that. I wanted her to get out of here and, hopefully, meet someone else. I missed you when you left, but I was so glad you did. It was your time to flee the nest and experience independence.”
“It will be okay, Mom.” She blinks her tears away and takes a breath.
“I wanted the best for all of you, and I was so proud when you left for college, Dandy. I missed you like crazy.” A tear slides down her cheek. “That was a dark time for me. I did things that—” Her words stop. It’s like she caught herself before she said too much.
“What things?”
She blinks, and a fake smile replaces the sadness. “Nothing, honey. I just missed you because you were always a joy to bearound. I wanted you to do whatever you wanted with the reassurance that Shadow Cove and your family would always be here for you.”
“You did that. I always had a home to return to.”
Unsure of what else to say, I offer her a smile of encouragement. I extend my hand, and she takes it.
“What if Levar takes the kids?” Her voice catches. “He doesn’t care about them.”
“She should call his bluff and let him take them. He won’t know what to do and will bring them back in a few hours. Problem solved.”
Her eyes widen and she gasps. “He would make those kids suffer out of spite.”
“You’re right,” I concede. “Maybe Dad can shoot him.” I shrug, but it makes my mom laugh.
“This is about to be a mess, Dandy, and I’m worried.”
I take her hand and give it a good squeeze.
“I worry about you, too.”
“Mom, I’m okay. I promise you.”
She gives me a sad smile, but nods. “We need to come together. I know you’re mad at your sister, but she needs us.”
I drop her hand and pick up my purse. “I gotta go.”
Mom snatches the purse from me.
“She wants to apologize to you, but—” Mom doesn’t finish her sentence, so I wait and arch an eyebrow. The rest of the words never come out.
“But?” I prod.
She doesn’t answer.
“If she wanted to apologize, she would have. She doesn’t, and I wouldn’t accept, so she’s saving both of us some time. I gotta go.”
My phone rings just as Tim runs into the kitchen. He goes straight to the fridge for a juice box. He gets two and gives one to me.
“Thanks, sweetie.” I bend down and kiss the top of his head.
“Is he coming over?” Tim asks, and I know he’s asking about Rip. “He drove by my school yesterday and made his bike loud. Then he pointed and waved at me. I told all the kids he’s my friend, and Ronnie doesn’t bother me anymore. He stays away from me now.”
