“Youhatethe sun. Every time the clouds clear, you practicallycurse at the sky and do a rain dance for them to return.” I smirk.
“Maybe it’s not the sun I want to curse at. Maybe it’s the arrogant and unappreciative boys that I had to care for like my own. But I suppose that’s never how they viewed me. I was just the housekeeper to them,” she bites back.
Ah. So that’s what this is about. Fuck. I meant my comments about firing her in jest because I wanted to stop worrying about me, but I couldn’t fault her for taking it personally. Especially since I know I’ve been particularly grouchy these past few weeks.
I step into her room and close the door behind us. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You do so much for us, and the least I can do is say thank you.”
Her back stiffens but she doesn’t turn, refusing to look at me. Bile fills my stomach. I hate seeing her this upset. “You don’t have to console me. I won’t really quit.”
“I know.” I move forward so I’m standing next to her. “Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t. Because you’re not the type of person to quit on your family. And that’s what we are.”
Her eyes shut as a small smile creeps onto her face. “Family.”
“So you’ll accept my apology?”
“I will. As long as you put this brace on your shoulder and keep it on until I see fit. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you wince every time you move your right arm.” She smirks, grabbing the fabric laid on her bed and tossing it into my chest.
My jaw falls open as her smirk turns into a grin and she breaks out into a cackle. She fucking played me.
“Conniving woman,” I grumble under my breath, adjusting my brace to fit snugly onto my arm.
“What was that?” Maura chides, wooden spoon back in her raised hand like she’s ready to smack me with it.
“Nothing, nothing. You know Declan always had a strange habit of talking to himself…” Aidan pauses to twirl his index finger by his temple and side-eyeing me. Great, first I was the asshole older brother, and now I’m crazy.
Maura rolls her eyes and turns on the gas stove, getting to work on whipping up breakfast. My mouth starts to water as the scent of bacon grease, cheese, and eggs fills the kitchen.
“So, when are Zahra and co. arriving?” Aidan steals a slice of bacon from the pan, tossing it in his mouth.
I wince, glancing at my watch. “Shit, I totally lost track of time. Should be in ten minutes. Fifteen tops. Would it be weird if we all met in the living room?”
“Why can’t we meet in your office?”
“Because it’s a mess,” I declare. I had planned on cleaning it up a bit this morning, but Maura’s fussing and subsequent successful attempt at getting me to wear my brace threw me off.
“....and?” Aidan cocks his head, confused.
“And what message would it say to our allies if they see my office a mess?”
“That you’re a human being who just got shot and maybe didn’t have time to throw out his recycling?” Aidan teases.
“Or maybe that I’m a lazy slob who doesn’t know how to take care of himself,” I correct, irritation growing as my brother looks at me like I’m crazy.
Maura snorts as she turns the stove off. “Nearly thirty years you’ve been on this planet, Declan, and I don’t think I’ve ever once heard you care this much about your office, or frankly any room of yours, being messy. No matter how much I used to pray for moments like this when you were a teenager.”
“Are you saying a man can never change, Maura?” I scoff, pouring myself a cup of coffee. Or, as Aidan liked to tease me, a cup of milk and sugar with a splash of coffee.
She shakes her head, hands on her hips. “No. But the question is,whohas inspired this change?”
My back stiffens. “What makes you think it's a ‘who’?”
“Yeah. Maybe he finally decided to give those self-help podcasts I’ve been recommending him a shot,” Aidan offers.
“You listen to self-help podcasts?” I can’t even hide the judgment I know is on my face.
“I’ve been telling you about them for weeks now! Do you even listen to me?” Aidan clicks his tongue in mock offense.
“I do, but admittedly, our tastes in media preferences are not aligned.”
