“Yes.” I’m breathing heavily as I sit down on my chair in the living room. “It was the only way I could reach way up top.”
“Why the hell didn’t you ask me for help?” He’s openly disapproving now.
“I could do it on my own. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“It would’ve taken me five minutes to help. Better than you breaking your neck with acrobatics.”
He’s not being mean. He doesn’t even sound angry. Just a stern disapproval.
But it feels like a slap in the face anyway, and my first reaction isn’t to be cowed and submissive like usual. I want to snap back at him defensively. I’m so close to doing it.
I’m an adult. I’m not incompetent. And I can do normal things other people can do.
I took a bad step. It could have happened to anyone.
I don’t need to be lectured.
But I did fall. And it could have been serious. And even as I was doing the work, I knew that Mason wouldn’t have minded helping me. I just didn’t want to ask him.
So maybe he’s right.
It’s my fault.
I should have done better.
“Okay.” I breathe raggedly and stare down at my hands twisting in my lap. “Next time I’ll ask.”
This appears to satisfy him. He leaves me alone and starts picking up scattered junk in the hall and returning it to the box. Then he moves it into its new position, closes the door to the top compartment, and brings the toppled chair back to tuck under the dining table.
“How do you feel?” he asks me.
“I said I was fine.” It actually takes work to keep my voice composed.
“You mad at me?”
“No. Of course not. I’m sorry I messed up.”
His frown now looks more confused than disapproving. “You didn’t mess up. But you might’ve really hurt yourself. Next time ask me for help.”
“I will.”
We stare at each other for a minute.
“So nothing hurts?”
“I have a couple of bruises.”
“Where?”
“On my butt.”
“Oh. Guess it could be worse.”
“Yes. It could be. But it’s not.”
I do my best to pull myself back together so I can fix dinner and get through the evening. I do for the most part, but there’s a small part of myself that still feels unsettled and annoyed with myself.
Messing up twice in one day is really not like me at all. I’ve been doing so good here so far. Working hard. Helping out. Earning my keep in an incredibly good situation. And now it feels like all that has been thrown off balance.
