A hollow feeling grew in my gut. While she’d been trying to make a life for herself and her family, I’d been partying around the world. Tossing back beers at the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, watching the gals put on a show at the Moulin Rouge, and doing my best to single-handedly support the economy of several islands in the South Pacific.
“We’re going to make this work.” I reached out and put a hand on my sister’s shoulder.
“Since when? You’re only going to be here long enough to cash in and then you’ll be off again on another adventure.” She shrugged my hand away and ran a finger under her eye, wiping away any hint of emotion.
“I’m sorry. I wish I could have been here for you more.”
“You don’t mean that.” She leveled me with a direct gaze. “You’ve never been able to stay in one place.”
My cheeks tingled. I knew she’d been struggling. I’d known it for a while. Every time we chatted via video, I’d get an idea of just how busy her life was. But when I’d been on the otherside of the world, it had been easy to ignore. Char could handle anything. She was the strong, stable one. I was the one who took the party with me wherever I went. I’d never grown roots, never wanted to, not the kind that Char had put down.
“I’m here now.”
“Yeah, but for how long? I can manage the four kids, the husband who’s never home, working two jobs to try to keep groceries on the table. The choices Dave and I have made have led us to where we are and we’ll deal with that.”
I nodded.
“But I can’t take on Gramps all by myself.”
“I’m here to help. I won’t leave until we find a solution. One that works for both of you.”
“And watch your language.”
“I’ll try. I’m not used to being around impressionable ears, but I’ll do my best.” I glanced down at my clothes. “Now I’ve got to change before I go meet with the contractor. Can I do anything to help you get out the door this morning?”
“Actually”—Char bit her lower lip—“Dolly’s day care provider canceled for today and my calendar is packed at work. Think she can hang with you?”
“What, like all day?”
“Yeah. She only has preschool three days a week and goes to day care the rest. But there’s some virus sweeping through and I could really use a hand.”
I swallowed the no that tried to squeeze past my lips. “Yeah, of course. I’d be happy to watch her.”
“Great. Thanks.” Char leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. “I’ll make sure she and Gramps are ready to go.”
“Wait. Where’s Gramps going today?”
Char stopped in the doorway and turned around real slow. “With you. He can’t stay here on his own all day. My house can’t take it. Last night I caught him trying to order pay-per-view.”
“Okay, Gramps, too.” It was going to be a real party trying to get work done with a multigenerational audience today, but that’s what I’d signed up for.
“You’re a lifesaver.”
I didn’t feel like a lifesaver. I felt like a life ring, bobbing around in the ocean trying to stay afloat until someone bigger and braver came by to take over. But I’d promised to pitch in, so I vowed to make the best of it.
Twenty minutes later I’d changed clothes, snagged a quick breakfast of lumpy waffles, and was ready to head out. Char had already left to take the three older girls to school and get to work.
“Dolly, Gramps, time to go.” I’d tried drying my notebook with a hair dryer, but the pages still stuck together. There had to be something else sitting around I could use. While I waited for my niece and my grandfather to turn off the TV in the other room, I pulled open one drawer after another, looking for something I could write on.
“I’m ready, Uncle Alex.” Dolly skipped into the room, her plastic dress-up heels clunking along the floor.
“Oh, sweetheart, we’re going to a warehouse today. Why don’t you run back to your room and change?”
Her lower lip jutted out. “But I want to wear my princess dress.”
I checked my watch. We were short on time but if she hurried, we wouldn’t be late. “I just don’t want you to get dirty. Warehouses can be a tricky place for princesses, you know.”
Dolly’s brow furrowed as she whirled around and stomped out of the kitchen.
