She sighs as she reaches for a clean plate, and Mark chuckles.
“I swear, boy,” Corinne says as she loads up a plate with mashed potatoes, roasted chicken, and veggies, “you’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed on.”
I take the plate when she holds it out to me and avoid her eyes.
Because if I look into them, I’ll probably cry.
She’s a great mom. Just like mine. So, I don’t know what it says about me that I find it easier to be in this kitchen than my own.
“You can take it upstairs,” Mark says as he slides the leftovers into the fridge. “Levi’s in his room.”
“Thanks,” I say quietly, then carry the plate upstairs.
Music filters out of Levi’s room as I approach his partially closed door. I push it open and step inside, and he looks up from his desk, where he’s typing at his computer, probably working on homework.
Shit. I have homework… I think.
Levi swivels in his chair to face me as I drop onto his bed and take a bite of broccoli. He doesn’t say anything, and I avoid looking at him as I keep my eyes down and on my plate.
A sigh escapes me after I swallow, and I finally lift my eyes to meet his. “My parents are getting a divorce.”
He pushes his chair back and crosses the room to sit next to me. “Yeah,” he nods slowly. “I guess we knew this was coming…”
“Yeah.” I push the food around on my plate. “It’s because of me.”
“No, it’s not,” Levi says immediately.
“It is,” I say. I stare down at my plate, letting my gaze roam over the carrots. “I heard them. Mom doesn’t like me.”
“That’s not true,” Levi says gently.
I nod. “I know she loves me. But she doesn’tlikeme.”
Levi is quiet as I take a few more bites in silence, then set the plate on the bedside table and lie back against the pillows. He stretches out next to me, but still doesn’t say anything. He’s just here, like he always is when I need him.
“I don’t want to be like this,” I say eventually as I stare up at the ceiling.
“I know.”
The music hums in the background as my thoughts all start swirling, so fast and loud I can’t hear anything else. What happens next? Where is she going to go? Will it be far away?What will Dad do? Is he going to be sad? Will he still want me if I made her leave?
“I’m scared, Vi,” I say quietly. “She’ll leave me.”
Levi turns his head towards me, but I keep my eyes glued to the ceiling as I try to keep my tears from breaking free.
“She’s moving out.” I blink up at the shadows overhead. “The farm belongs to Dad’s family, so she’s leaving. And then she’ll realize she doesn’t have to deal with me anymore. She’ll get a break. And once she knows what that feels like, she won’t come back.”
He nudges my arm, and I blink back my tears with a hard swallow before I turn my head to face him.
“She’s not leaving you, Si,” he says, his brown eyes catching the warm lamplight. “They just can’t be together anymore. She’ll still be your mom.”
A tear slips from the corner of my eye and drops onto the pillow. “But… what if she does?”
Levi presses his lips together as his eyes flick between mine. “Then I’ll be here to help you.”
I nod with a sniff. I know that’s true.
“And Redwave will help, too,” Levi says, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
