A few hours later, Adam pulls up to my apartment. I kept Cailin busy with some puzzles, but now, we’re curled up on my couch, watchingThe Little Mermaid.
I run my hand down her arm. “Here, let me up for a second. I’m going to go outside real quick.”
“Is my daddy here?” She perks up.
“Yes, he is. Is it okay if I talk to him alone first?”
She hesitates but then sits back down to continue watching the movie.
“We’ll be right back.”
I make my way down the stairs and meet Adam right outside his truck. “Is everything okay?”
His eyes tell me the pain he’s seen tonight. I place my hand on his cheek as his crystal blues bore into my soul.
“Is Cailin all right?” he asks, motioning up to my place.
“She’s fine. I took her for frozen yogurt, and now we’re watching a movie.”
He holds out his hand to take mine, pulling it into him. “Thank you for taking her. I didn’t want her to see that.”
His hands are fixated on mine, and I lean down to try to break the spell he’s under.
“Where did he go?”
“I finally got him to calm down and pass out. He was on some heavy shit.”
I nod slowly, biting my inner lip.Is his life always like this?
We sit in silence as he runs his fingers over mine.
“Did Cailin tell you who he was?” he asks after a few minutes.
“She said he’s her uncle.” I step toward him, trying to give him the courage to speak. “I didn’t know you had a brother.”
His head tilts back as he lets out a deep breath before meeting my eyes again. “He’s her mom’s brother.”
“Oh …” I say, as my mind goes blank. I’m not sure how to respond. “Is that how you met him?”
He lets go of my hand, and I feel the instant loss.
“I met them both at the same time. We were all in the foster system together. I always said it was better that he had a sister at least to be with, and he always said that was what made it harder for him, feeling like he had to watch over Michelle just as much as himself.”
His hands dig deep into his pockets as he looks around us. I can tell he’s uncomfortable with this subject, so I don’t want to push him.
“He blames himself for what happened.”
His head drops to his chest, and I step closer, placing my hand on his stomach.
“Why? What happened?”
The exhale he releases tells me everything I need to know. She’s gone.
“How did it happen?”
His weight shifts back as he leans against the truck. The gap that forms between us is quickly erased when he pulls me into him. I place my head on his chest as his arm wraps around my shoulders.
“It’s awful, being in the foster system. She was a year older than him, though you’d never know it. She aged out and was having a hard time, making ends meet. She always suffered with depression, and pills and drinking were what she used to get by. When we formed the band, things took off kind of fast. We were able to book gigs, make a little money. Michelle started hanging out with us more and more, though I don’t think it did her any good.”
