“Kind of like when you go golfing,” I said to Brendan. “It’s not like you golf and then come back. You stay around, shoot the shit with your buddies, get drunk, and miss your flight.”
Brendan smirked. “Touché.”
Miri yawned, and I looked at the time. It was close to eight. “Are you tired?”
She nodded. “I think I’m going to go up and take a bath, and then crawl into bed with the book.” Miri winked at Brendan as she stood.
He chuckled.
I went upstairs to make sure Miri was okay and checked on Cutter. He was in his room, on the phone with Eleni. His door was ajar. I knocked and waited for him to tell me to come in.
“Hey, I just wanted to see what your plans are this evening.”
“A bunch of us are going to Malik’s to hang out.”
“Are his parents home?” I already sounded like a mother and not a cool aunt.
Cutter rolled his eyes. “Yes. His house and parents’ cell phone numbers are on the refrigerator.”
“Great. Do you need me to give you a ride?”
He shook his head. “Jayden is picking me up, and yes, before you ask, Mom lets me ride with Jayden, and he has a graduated driver’s license.”
I opened my mouth to ask about Jayden’s number, but Cutter beat me to it. “His number is on the refrigerator as well.”
“Wow, this was easy. Let me know when you’re leaving. I’ll be downstairs. Your mom is taking a bath, and then she’s going to bed.”
“Thanks, Toni.”
“You’re welcome.”
As I walked back downstairs, I wondered when Miri and I would sit the kids down and talk about the future. I would need to have some kind of answer for Cutter, mostly, about our future. The thing was, I had no idea what was going to be right. My job was in Boston, and while I was in Grove Hill now, I couldn’t stay forever. At some point, Brendan’s dad would want me back in the office.
Brendan was in the kitchen doing the dishes when I walked in. I poured myself another glass of wine and sipped slowly. “You don’t have to do those.”
“I figured if they were done, you could come back to the bed-and-breakfast with me.”
“You know I can’t.”
“No, I don’t know that you can’t.” He shut the water off and dried his hands. “Miriam’s going to bed. Nova’s at a friend’s house. Cutter’s going out. What on earth would keep you here?”
“They keep me here,” I told him. “Something could happen. The kids could need me.”
“Nothing’s going to happen.” Brendan placed his hands on the counter, one on each side of me. “Come back with me.”
I shook my head. “You’re going to have to get used to this.”
“Used to what?”
“Us, with kids.”
He stood straight up. “What are you talking about?”
“The kids aren’t going anywhere, Brendan. I’m their guardian.”
He took a step back and then another. “Wow ... um, I’m not sure what to say.” He ran a hand through his hair and blew out his breath.
“There’s nothing to say,” I told him. “I’m not letting some strangers raise my best friend’s kids.”
