“I give Em a heap of shit because that’s what we do,” James said. “It’s the way it’s always been between us. But she’s a good mom and a good person and she doesn’t deserve to be dicked around by a guy braiding her kid’s hair. You get me?”
Annie had messed up her braid, then Fiona asked for one, too. No one needed to rag on him for it.
“I get you,” Ethan assured.
“Em’s had a lot of letdown, lately. I’d appreciate it, if you watched yourself so you don’t get added to the list of asses I have to kick,” Lance said. This time he looked right at Ethan.
Ethan didn’t want to be on the list. But he did feel…something last night. Things shifted inside him. A clock that hadn’t ticked in a long time ticked and tocked in his chest. Figuratively, at least. Unfortunately, he wasn’t sure himself if the game was still the same as yesterday.
He didn’t bloody know.
But they hadn’t changed the rules, so he had to stick with the original plan.
“We tripped her,” James said.
That got Ethan’s attention.
“When Em decided to go to art school. We tripped her. The whole bunch of us. Didn’t want her to go,” James continued.
“It wasn’t a good look for us,” Lance said.
“You made her question herself?” Ethan asked, but mostly pointed out.
Lance nodded, pursed his lips.
“Shame, mate, because she’s got some serious skills,” Ethan said with a nod. “I’ve seen her work and it’s amazing. She should definitely keep creating without the hit to her confidence.”
“For what it’s worth,” Lance said as his throat worked. “I believe you. I think you do care about my sister.”
Well, that was progress, then.
“But the kids…” Lance tilted his head toward them. “I think they’re getting the wrong impression.”
“We’ve been upfront with the girls from the beginning,” Ethan assured.
The last thing they wanted was to let them down.
“They’re still pretty hopeful they’ll get to be sisters,” Jim added. “Something to keep in mind when you’re done with this whole thing. It’s more than just Em we’re worrying over.”
“That’s good to know,” Ethan said. He and Em could keep telling the kids this was all a ruse, but they saw their folks playing along and that had to give them a bit of hope.
Especially Annie, who was fair keen on having a real mum.
They’d need to be a bit more careful with that.
Chapter Twenty-Two
EMMALINE
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Point to the photo. Click the photo. Drag to the template. Release.
Confirm the spelling of his name.
Export to PDF.
Send to the guy in the red tie.
