"Jake said he paid you?" I ask.
"Yeah." Brook steps up in front of me and whispers, "He had a ten dollar bill in an envelope that he made from a sheet of paper because he said you didn't have any. He was trying to be very adult, like he was hoping to impress me. It was so sweet."
"He's a good kid," I say, backing away because her words are affecting my heart again. And Jake doing that, making her an envelope, shows she's getting into his heart too. He desperately wants his mom back in his life, and I think in some way, Brook fills that void, even though she's only a few years older than him.
Jacob runs up to me. "Can I go out with Ben? His dad's taking him to the go-kart track and said he could bring a friend. They'll pick me up. I won't have to take the bus."
"You finished your homework?"
"Yeah. Can I go? I have to let him know."
"Which one is Ben? Do I know him?"
Jacob nods. "Black hair. Glasses. Shorter than me. You met him when you dropped me off at school. It was day the car broke down."
"Yeah, I remember. The nerdy kid."
"He's not a nerd!"
I hear Brook softly laughing behind me.
"And his dad's taking you?" I ask.
"Yeah. And he might take us to dinner after go-karts."
That'd be good, since we don't have food.
"His dad's paying for it," Jake says. "If that makes a difference."
"Okay, you can go, but text me when you get there and when you leave. And let me know when you'll be home."
"I will." He takes off.
"Text me the dad's number," I yell so he'll hear me.
"I don't know it," he yells back.
I walk to the bedroom. "Ask him for it and text it to me. Otherwise, no deal."
"Yeah, okay. I've got to get ready." He closes the door.
I walk back to Brook. That soft smile is still on her face and she's looking at me in a way she doesn't normally look at me.
"What?" I ask. "Why are you giving me that look?"
"I'm impressed."
"With what?"
"You."
"ME?" I point to myself. "Why?"
"The way are you with Jake. Mature. Responsible. Selfless."
There goes my heart again, that warm feeling returning. No one's ever said that to me. No one cares or notices how much I do for Jake. How much I've given up to be his stand-in parent. I don't regret it, and wouldn't change it, but it's freaking hard. Every day is a struggle and it's a thankless job. It feels good to have someone acknowledge it and tell me I'm not totally screwing up.
"Seeing you do all this," Brook says. "Taking care of your brother. Taking care of this house. I'm amazed you can do all that and still go to school and play football. I seriously don't know how you do it. Do you ever sleep?" she says with a laugh.
