“We are not the enemy, Ness,” my uncle said, stepping on the can of pepper spray Evelyn was reachingfor.
“Well, you’re sure acting like it!” I bitout.
I tried to headbutt my cousin, but he must’ve predicted my move because he added space between our bodies, all the while keeping my wrists in a vice. “I don’t want to hurt you,Ness.”
“I will go with her.” Evelyn’s declaration made everyonefreeze.
“What? No.” Lucy’s head jerked back, and it made her double chin wobble. She’d gained weight since I’d last seen her; not that she was ever a size eight, but she used to befirmer.
“You surely can’t just up and leave, Ma’am,” Jebsaid.
“I surely can and surely will. Now release her before I call the police and have them observe how unfit you are to be herguardians.”
“We’re not afraid of cops,” Everest said, a lilt to hisvoice.
I was so furious I wanted to spit on him. On him and on hispride.
My uncle raised an open palm. “Release her,Everest.”
Everest let me go. I rubbed my wrists and glared at him, funneling everything I thought about him and his little stunt into that one look. I didn’t spitthough.
“Can you cook, Ma’am?” Jeb asked. At first, I assumed the drive had made him hungry—my uncle and cousin were always hungry—but then Jeb added, “We need a new cook at theinn.”
Lucy startled. “Jeb, we can’tjust—”
“She’s an incredible cook,” Isaid.
“But—” Lucy startedagain.
“Dad’s right. We need a new cook, and Ness won’t come without Evelyn. It’s a win-win.”
Lucy gasped. “We can’t just pick someone off thestreet.”
“We’re notonthe street, Mom,” Everestsaid.
My cousin’s support was startling and reminded me of another time when he’d stood up for me, but my gratitude whizzed out like air from a popped balloon when I recalled how he’d just manhandledme.
“We can’t promise it will work out,” Jebsaid.
“But she’ll stay with me until I’m eighteen even if it doesn’t.” Evelyn was my life. At fifty-eight, living alone with decreasing mobility, there was no way in hell I’d let Jeb kick her to the curb. “You’ll give her a room in theinn.”
“You’re a very demanding girl,” my unclesaid.
“You’re uprooting me from my life.”Again.“I have a right to bedemanding.”
Jeb glanced at his wife, but Lucy was too busy scowling to meet his gaze. “We’ll supply her with a room, but it’ll impact her salary.Ifit worksout.”
Lucy finally flicked a creamy hand, contaminating the air with the essence of nicotine that had yellowed the white crescents of her nails. “All this is well and good, but shouldn’t we sample the woman’s cookingfirst?”
“The woman has a name. Evelyn. And she made fish tacos,” Isaid.
“I could eat,” Everestchirped.
Of course he could. My cousin’s appetite was a monstrous thing when we were growingup.
“I’ll go fetch the tacos with her,” Ioffered.
“No. I’ll go,” Everestsaid.
