“Let’s go before you’re late for school! I can’t get another note from your teacher. If you land on their list, then I land on the list, and that’s not a list either of us want to be on. Got it?” I shout up the stairs to my younger brother Noah, hoping like hell he moves quickly.
“Besides, if you hurry, we might have time to swing through the drive-thru, and I’ll get you one of those coffee drinks you like.” At this moment, I feel like the worst guardian ever.Who offers a seven-year-old coffee?Then again, I’m not above bribery, and it’s frozen, so it’s practically a milkshake. You could even say it’s a breakfast smoothie. Okay, even I know that is a stretch.
“Really?” His shout is followed by a stampede of feet. Taking a deep breath, I exhale and let the air flow up into my hairline. I swear this kid will be the death of me. As much as I love him, I see an early grave in my future.
“Yes. But only if you hurry. I have a solid ten to fifteen minutes that we can spare. You can even order in the car on my app. Ithink I have some rewards or something. Go wild,” I yell as he comes into view.
“Areyouready to go?” he jokes as he takes in my appearance.
Oh, to be young again.
“Yes. Do you have everything you need? I won’t be able to drop anything off at school today. I’m in enough trouble as it is at work. You need to make sure you have everything before we leave.” He turns around to show me his backpack and walks toward the kitchen to grab his lunch. Shutting the fridge, he tosses his sandwich and a drink into his lunchbox, zipping it up.
“Alright. Let’s go.” I grab my keys and head for the door, Noah hot on my trail. Handing him my phone, I quickly lock up. “Here, go ahead and put your order in. We can pick it up on the way in. Make sure you do it for the drive-thru this time. The last time you forgot, they acted like it was a crime.”
Noah nods as he heads to the back seat of the car. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?” He lifts a brow as he tilts the phone toward me. I shake my head and climb in.
Reversing out of the driveway, I take in the home I bought a year ago. It is a nice starter home for Noah and me. I fell in love with the light-colored house the instant I saw it. It has a small porch with a patio couch and light blue shutters surrounding a bay window. The window sold me on it. I always wanted one where I could sit and watch the world go by. There’s a small flower garden around the front that looks like it’s a few days away from being dead. Maybe I’ll just add some stones and a few fake plants. No one would know, right?
The down payment for the house took a dent out of my savings, but I knew we were outgrowing the apartment. I don’t spend money unless I have to, and I still have a decent chunk of the surprise inheritance from my late grandmother.
My mom’s mother was never around when I was growing up, so I assumed she was already dead. Turns out, she stayed away because she couldn’t stand what her daughter had become. When her lawyer gave me a check for $250,000, along with a letter, I was stunned. Inever knew the woman, but if that was how she wanted to apologize for abandoning her grandchild, then who was I to turn it down?
Driving toward the coffee fix I pray won’t make us late, I realize I haven’t answered him. “No, I’m good. I’ll grab something at Mara’s before I head to the library.”
As much as I loved working for the Morgans, once I finished my degree, I wanted to find something different. I still help at the garage when Mr. Morgan gets behind in the office, but six months ago, I landed my dream job.
I’ve always loved books and reading, so naturally I chose to major in library science. Currently, I’m a part-time librarian at the local library, but I hope to become full-time one day. I love my job, and it pays the bills, barely. I have a couple of interviews lined up at a local boutique and gym. Working every night isn’t possible with Noah, but hopefully one of them offers flexible hours. It’s not exactly ideal, but the library allows me to pick Noah up and let him hang out with me after school. Maybe the gym won’t care if he hangs out there, too.
Noah nods in understanding and taps a few more buttons. “Okay. Order is placed. Drive-thru this time, as promised.” I glance at him through my rearview mirror and watch as he continues to tap away on my phone.
Sometimes I feel much older than my twenty-five years. Especially when most nights, all I want to do is eat early and crawl into bed at eight o’clock. I don’t date or go out very often. It makes me feel like a failure until I remember that I’m not the one who issupposedto be raising Noah.Only positive thoughts,Cora, I chastise myself. Dwelling on the past doesn’t do anyone any good.
There were so many days when I wanted to quit at the start. Working full-time at the garage while doing online courses and taking care of Noah was exhausting. Mr. Morgan was really easy-going, allowing me to do assignments in between helping customers.
When I finished my degree last year, the Morgans threw a huge graduation party. Not just for the twins, but they also included me. It didn’t matter that I’m not their blood, or that I did classes onlinewhile the girls attended in-person. The Morgans believe in education, and they were proud of me.
I almost cried when Noah gave me the card and a framed photo of us as a gift. I did cry when Daniel and Willa explained the graduation gift they had chosen. The Morgans kept Noah for a week and sent me and the twins on a trip to the beach. It was the first time I had ever seen the ocean.
That first night, I sat on the sand for over an hour past sunset just taking it in. There was nothing better than the smell of salt water, or the warm breeze as it fanned across my face and hair. The sound of the waves crashing, and the feeling of standing in the ocean as it tried to move me around was worth it all. I collected an obscene number of seashells and pebbles that I found on the shore that week.
We spent hours in the sun enjoying our break. For the first time since my parents died, I felt normal. I was just a regular girl on vacation with her friends. Much to Mila and Mara’s dismay, I ignored the lingering stares of men on the beach. I had little experience with men, and what experience I did have wasn’t worth repeating. Relationships make me leery, so I just avoid them altogether. Noah is the only guy I need. We’re a team, just the two of us.
Focusing on the present, I pull into the parking lot and join the drive-thru line. Glancing at the clock on my dashboard, I let out a relieved sigh. Pending any traffic, we should be on time.
Rolling up to the speaker, I give them my name and then pull around to the window. Handing Noah his drink, I laugh. “So, you got a frozen coffee after all. Did you order anyactualfood to go with it at least?”
He lifts his shoulder in a half-shrug while popping the straw into his drink. “It’s more like a coffee milkshake without whipped cream. Only girls get that added on,” he jokes.
“Oh. So, because you left out the whipped topping, it suddenly makes your drink less girly, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Enjoy it while you can because you know the school gets mad if you have drinks like that.” He laughs a little but listens.
“Do you want to do any sports this fall?” He’s in second grade, and I’m hopeful that he’ll find something to hold his interest. He’s a bit closed off but still has a few friends who occasionally come by the house.
“I don’t know. There’s soccer or football.”
