Everything clicked. When Nik divulged his struggles to Asher, he hadn’t expected Asher would later confide in his father—or that Cal would tell me. He hadn’t said a thing about helping them, but I knew it was something he’d do, and not only for Asher.
“How do you know it was him?”
“Who the hell else has ten grand sitting around?” she snapped. “Plus, any time he comes in he leaves a ridiculous tip. Did you…did you say something to him?” She looked horrifyingly embarrassed at the possibility.
I sighed, motioning to Shelly to take over. “Come on, let’s get a coffee.”
“I don’t want a fucking coffee, Harper. I want you and your rock star boyfriend to butt out of my business.” She ground out. Beneath her anger, I recognized that she was hurt and embarrassed, so I didn’t react to her lashing out. I’d probably be just as pissed, but I knew Calum had only meant to help—as invasive as the move had been.
“Come on,” I urged, placing my hand on her elbow and leading the way to a table in the café. She jerked her arm away and sat down, still fuming. Her eyes angry and stormy.
Ellery caught my eye from across the room, and I lifted my chin at her. She nodded, grabbing two paper cups with one hand, and lifting the coffee pot with the other.
“I’m really sorry for overstepping, but our sons have been best friends since kindergarten. They talk about stuff, and I guess Nik told Asher you guys were struggling a little bit.”
Or a lot. The utilities were past due, and she was behind in rent. Nik had told Asher that they started falling behind during the surgery. It got worse when she’d gotten sick with the flu and then pneumonia at the beginning of December and that Raina had been struggling to catch up on all the bills ever since. The whole story had come out last night when Asher asked us what an eviction notice was.
“That’s none of your business.”
“I know that, and I’m sorry to have intervened like this. I know Calum didn’t mean any harm by it, he just didn’t need that money, and he knew of someone whodidneed that money. You can return it to him, but he won’t take it.”
“Then,youtake it.” She pushed the envelope to me. “Use it for your store or whatever. He’s your boyfriend. I can’t—Iwon’ttake his money.” Her eyes were pleading, and tormented, andso god damn familiar.
Shaking my head, I covered her hand over the envelope and gently pushed it a little closer to her. “I’m taken care of, so please…use it to take care of yourselves, and catch up. There’s no harm in accepting help when you need it, when it comes from a good place. I promise you it does.”
Raina tugged her hand away, leaving the envelope and letting out a long, weary sigh as she dropped her head to the table onto her folded arms. “You don’t get it. Ican’ttake his money. It’s just…I can’t.”
“Why?” I didn’t know what she was talking about, but I could sense from the look in her eyes from the moment she stormed in and her energy about it that it was big and that she considered it bad. Terrible. Horrendously unacceptable.
She lifted her head, her expression hardening. “Michael Jacobs is my father.”
“Oh.” I blinked, absorbing those five words. My heart pounded with adrenaline. “How long have you known?”
She shrugged, averting her gaze. “A while. I’ve only seen him from afar, and I don’t think he knows about me. None of them do. But if I take this money, it will feelwrong, like I’m trying to cash in on family talent or something, and I’m not.” She glared down at the envelope, shaking her head.
I let her words roll over in my head for a moment. Seeing the break in our conversation, Ellery hedged over, two coffees in hand, and placed them on the table before quickly backing off. I wasn’t sure if she’d heard anything, but she could sense the heavy atmosphere and sent me a quizzical look before returning behind the counter. For a moment, neither Raina nor I moved.
Then I let out a breath and reached for my coffee and held it, warming my palms. “Have you told him? Michael, I mean.” It was obvious that Calum had no clue—he would have told me, and he would have done a hell of a lot more than leave her an envelope with ten grand in it.
Raina shook her head slowly, sliding her arms off the table and onto her lap. “No. I came here to do that…to tell him. Originally, I mean. Nine years ago…” She looked beyond me, watching pedestrians pass by the shop. “Dominic—Nik’s dad—he thought maybe, one of our parents wouldn’t be such a waste case, and our kid could have a grandparent and some semblance of a normal upbringing. But I kept chickening out, and it got easier and easier to put it off. My mom always told me he hadn’t wanted either of us and I was afraid of that being true. And honestly, I was happy. I had a family of my own, a home of my own, and it didn’t matter as much anymore. Then Dominic died and…” she trailed off, two silent tears trailing down her cheeks. She wiped them away, almost furiously, as if their presence angered her.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, and Nik’s loss.” Although the words felt inadequate, I had to try. “But Raina, you have familybeyondMichael. A brother and a sister. I know for a factbothof them wouldwantto know about you, and Nik.”
“Half-brother and sister.” She corrected, still as guarded as ever.
“There is no half when it comes to this family.” I responded.
“And Michael? Would that news tickle his joyful heart?”
I winced a little, unsure of that answer. “Family is more than blood. It’s a choice.” I said. “So you can choose to distance yourself from the toxic ones, and you’re within your right to do that if his reaction is not what you hope for.” I reminded her.
“That sounds promising.” She scoffed.
“Don’t worry about that because no matter what…you still have family. You’re Asher’s aunt, and that makes our kids cousins.”
The tiniest, briefest hint of a smile flashed before it was gone. It was as if Raina didn’t want to allow herself to be hopeful. I couldn’t blame her; she’d experienced so much loss in her life. But now that I knew how deep her suffering truly went, I was determined to break through to her. Evenifshe wasn’t related by blood to my son and Calum, I would want her to realize that she could have a supportive network; a family by choice. Friends, home, a community.
“Do you understand why I can’t take this money?” She asked me, searching my face.
