Rosie smiled and winked. “That’s a yes. Five psychic points for me.”
“Only five?” Shay jutted her chin at the screen. “I think you might deserve ten.”
“Ooh, you’re so generous. Thank you.”
Shay shook her head. “Seriously though, yes, I’m going to talk to him when we’ve finished chatting. Everyone but Aaron has gone home, and he’s in with Daddy now.”
Rosie clenched her toes and held onto her judgment that most of Shay’s brothers were leaving everything to her again.
“It doesn’t matter, Rosie.”
She frowned. “What doesn’t matter?”
“It’s okay that they’ve gone home,” Shay said. “You’d make a terrible poker player. The condemnation was all over your face.”
“It was not.” Rosie blinked and placed her palm over the screen briefly. She liked that she was paying attention and didn’t stop the slight smile at Shay’s reading of her.
“It really was. But it’s good. This way, I get to talk to Daddy alone, and no one’s going to interrupt us. And,” Shay put her finger up, “progress with Aaron continues. He made a genuine offer to stay, but I told him to go home to his family. See what therapy can do? That’s the kind of difference you used to make.”
“But now I just manipulate people to spend money they don’t have on things they don’t want.” Rosie made a face and clutched her hand to her chest. “Ouch.”
Shay cocked her head. “Your words, not mine. This time.”
Rosie stuck out her tongue but didn’t argue. Words were powerful indicators of emotional state, and her own choice of them was telling.
“What’s been happening in your world? Do you miss me?”
More than you’ll ever know.“So much stuff. And no, not at all.”
Shay gave her cockiest grin. “Liar. You’re just saying that to hurt me.”
Rosie arched her eyebrow. “You want me to miss you?” The question was out of her mouth before she could marshal her thoughts.
Shay glanced away and shrugged. “Maybe.”
The idea of that was enough, and Rosie didn’t press for more. It was a good sign their situationship was still solid and that Shay had no idea Rosie was head over heels in love. “No one’s coming to the memorial, including Aunt Sheila, and my mom forged my signature on a loan, so I have a new $50,000 debt.”
Shay’s eyes widened. “What? You’re kidding?”
Rosie shook her head. “I wish I was. I need a lawyer.”
“I’ll text you Janie’s number,” Shay said. “I don’t know what kind of lawyer she is, but she should probably be able to help.”
“Are you sure that’s okay, given how things are with her and Solo?”
“I’m positive. And if she can’t help, I’ll bet she can give you the details of someone who can.”
Rosie smiled tightly as the gravity of the situation dawned on her a little more. Her mom really never thought of anyone but herself. “Thank you.” She didn’t want to drone on about her problems, so she thought about what it meant that Shay was calling her again, and she tried for a more genuine smile. This one came far easier. “Have the doctors told you when your dad will be allowed to go home?”
“He’s got to stay in the ICU for another forty-eight hours for round the clock observation, then they’ll move him to a ward, where he has to stay for a week minimum.” Shay shook her head and laughed. “You’ll guess he’s not happy about that.”
“What about you? How do you feel about it?”
Shay rolled her eyes. “Getting back into practice, counselor?”
Rosie opened her mouth to protest, but Shay waved at the screen.
“I’m kidding. I’m okay with it. Me and Aaron will figure out a schedule and corral the others into it, so there’ll always be someonehere for visiting hours. I’ll probably take most of the weekend.”
