We exchanged a knowing glance. “Who’s got themrightnow?”
“Aunt Cheri came over to watch them so Dad could stay at the hospital, but she won’t be able to handle them tonight, so you and I will need totakeover.”
I nodded. “Howarethey?”
“Riley’s doing okay, actually. We’ve been keeping him busy in sports. But Sydney…” Luke shook his head. “She’s a handful, to say theleast.”
My eyes clouded over. It was no wonder. “She misses her momanddad.”
“Wealldo.”
“I know, but it’s not the same for us. We lost our brother and sister-in-law. Syd lost her mom and dad. I can’t imagine how thatfeels.”
“She keeps asking for you, Case. She’s gotten worse sinceyouleft.”
“I know. I talk to her everyday. I can hear adifference.”
“Here’s the thing. Mom needs rest. She’s having a lot of trouble controlling Syd. And Dad… he’s no help at all. He has a really short fuse with her. Mom is doingeverything.”
“Could we hire someone to come in duringthedays?”
“They’re at school during the days; that’s not the problem. It’s the nights and weekends, and now that summer break is coming up for them in about a week, I seriously don’t know how Mom and Dad are going tohandleit.”
“Maybe summer camps,” I said, brainstorming. “And we’ll get them a babysitter to come in a few hoursaday.”
“Or… I was thinking…” Luke stopped mid-sentence, running his fingers through his newly grownouthair.
“What?”
“Of getting them away completely for a few weeks… so Momcanheal.”
“You’re going to take them on vacation?” I asked, surprised he’d even consider such a thing. But then with his alter ego in charge now, maybe he wasevolving.
“No, Casey, not me. I was thinking maybe you and Jake could take them. I mean, summer break starts next week. Jake’s on tour. It might be fun for them to see what that’s all about. And during tour stops, you can take them on little adventures maybe. I could even get a week off myself and come and help. I don’t know, it probably won’t work, but I’m just throwing things out there at thispoint.”
I bit down on my lower lip, thinking over his proposal. “I’d have to ask Jake. It’s not the worst idea,though.”
“Right?” He brightened. “It would give Mom a chance to rest up, and I think it would be good for Sydney to have you around. She needs a mother figure right now, and our mother just ain’tcuttin’it.”
“Because she’s exhausted,” I said,defendingher.
“I was kidding. Damn, my jokes aren’t landing anymore. Maybe I was only funny when I was the fat bestfriend.”
“Stop it,” I said, punching him in the side. “Anyway, I don’t think I’m much of a role modelmyself.”
“None of us are right now. We’re all doing the bestwecan.”
The look in his eyes gave me pause. Things had gone downhill since I’d left three months ago; that much wasobvious.
“I’ll call Jake tonight and run it by him, but he should be finewithit.”
Luke snorted. “Oh, he’s going to love it. Nothing spells fun like twobrattykids.”
My eyes sparkled in mischief. “We’ll leave the bratty part out,shallwe?”
“I think weshall.”
My brother and I grinned at one another as I linked my arm in his and said, “Take metoMom.”
