“What are you working on today?”
“I’m running to the greenhouse.” She worried her bottom lip between her fingers as she eyed me.
Although I hated showing her any sign of weakness, I couldn’t help but squirm under the scrutiny.
She’d been doing this more often since the morning she and I had gotten into it about me wanting to do
everything for her. “If you want, you can ride with me. I’d been hoping to run after work one night this
week, but that didn’t turn out. I have to get going if I want to get everything done this weekend.”
“I can help,” I offered, cringing because I didn’t need her thinking that was an offer for me to take
over the project—which is probably why I quickly backtracked. “I’ll keep my mouth shut and
everything. I just figured an extra pair of hands helping you load stuff into the truck would get you
home faster. And you can do all the digging and planting when we get back; I’ll just be the pack mule
for you.”
Vivvie leaned forward and placed her small hand over mine. I looked up and noticed her failed
attempt to hide her amusement. “Damn, I’ve never seen you this way.”
“What way?”
“So eager to please,” she explained. “It must be killing you to clearly tell me you won’t do
something.”
Even a day ago, it probably would have been hard for me, but now I saw my sister more clearly.
I’d never given her enough credit for what she went through in every corner of her life, constantly
trying to prove she was enough. She was. Hell, she was one of the strongest, bravest people I knew. If
she wanted to get blisters all over her hands proving it to herself, I wouldn’t stop her. I would,
however—after an appropriate amount of time—give her shit for being stubborn.
“I don’t mind you helping me. The only reason I got pissed off at you was because you were trying
to take over and do everything. It felt like you were trying to fix the house for me because you weren’t
here to fix all the other bullshit in my life when Jayden was younger.” She pushed back from the table,
tipped back her coffee mug, and walked to the front door. “Get your ass dressed. If we leave in the
next twenty, we’ll miss the rush of everyone else hoping to get a start on planting this weekend.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I lifted my hand in a mock salute. Helping Vivvie in the front yard was exactly
what I needed today. I needed a project, and someone to keep my mind from wandering to the issue
that was Corey.
8
