The back of my throat burns, and she must see that she’s hit a nerve because her expression softens. “Thank you for helping us out.”
I give her a half-shrug, trying to shake off the pressure building between my shoulder blades. “Well, it’s not like you really left me a choice if I remember correctly.”
She pokes me in the chest. “You little shit. You should be lucky I even invited you.”
“Hey! What happened to no cussing in front of the kids?”
“That only applies to us mere mortals, dude,” one of Miguel’s friends calls out. “And trust me, you don’t want to pi—” Becky just raises her brow silently, which makes the tall guy reconsider his words quickly. “Disappointthe baby mama.”
“Damn right you don’t.”
I shake my head just as there’s a commotion on the terrace that draws our attention. Kyle’s the first one I see, two dogs following at his heels. While my gut clenches with nerves, a wide smile spreads over Becky’s face.
Chase and Rose follow shortly after; my brother’s hand placed on the small of her back as he says something to her. My heart is beating wildly, palms sweaty as I wait, but then Chase looks up, his gaze meeting Becky’s. He gives a quick shake of his head, and from the corner of my eye, I can see my sister’s face fall.
Relief slams into me, followed by guilt and shame.
Chase was supposed to be the one to pick up our mother from Helpful Hands, the care facility where she lives and has around-the-clock care, something she desperately needs because of her Alzheimer’s. She still has some lucid days, and my siblings usually visit her then. Becky even said she was well enough for the home visit a few times, but clearly, today isn’t one of those days.
“She’s not coming,” Becky says, more of a statement than a question.
Chase joins us, his expression somber. “I’m sorry, Becky.”
Our sister tightens her hold on her son, her nostrils flaring as she sucks in a long breath and silently braces herself. Her throat bobs visibly. She blinks a few times to chase away the misty hue, which makes me feel like even more of an asshole.
Here she is, desperately wanting more time with our mother, and I’m relieved I don’t have to face her for a little while longer. What kind of son does that make me?
A guilty one,the little voice at the back of my head whispers.
Becky tries to force a smile but fails miserably. “We knew this could happen.”
Her head falls slightly, her hair shielding her face from view. My gaze meets Chase’s, and I can see his brows are pulled together.
“Be—” Chase starts gently, but she’s faster.
“I need to go check something in the house.” Turning toward me, she expertly slips Jackson into my arms before I can blink. “Here. Keep an eye on him for a minute, will ya?”
“Wha—” My gaze falls to the kid who’s sucking on his finger and eyeing me carefully with his big hazel eyes, a perfect match to my sister’s. “Dam—” I bite my tongue before the curse can slip fully out of my mouth. “What do I do with him?”
She doesn’t even spare me a glance. “He’s your nephew, figure it out.”
There’s a little bit of that feistiness I’m familiar with in her tone, and the knot in my stomach loosens, if only slightly. She might need a moment, but she’s going to be okay.
My gaze is on her retreating back as I tighten my hold on the kid, hoisting him higher in my arms. “Dude, you’re heavier than you look. What is she feeding you?”
Is it normal for a one-year-old kid to be this big? I have no idea. Being the youngest meant I never had much contact with babies. I saw them around, sure, but that’s about it. I have noidea how fast they grow or what’s normal and what’s not. What am I supposed to do with him?
I look at Chase, but he just lifts his hands in the air. “Don’t ask me. My kid is seven.”
Before I get to call him out on it, Miguel appears by our side. He takes us in, and understanding dawns on him, making him curse under his breath. “Becky?”
Chase tilts his head toward the house. “Inside.”
“I’m gonna go and check in on her.” Miguel nods, ruffling his son’s hair, as he asks Chase, “Can you keep an eye on the grill?”
“Sure.”
“Do you maybe—” I start, but he’s already rushing toward the house. “Seriously? I could have kept an eye on the grill.”
