Debbie let out a soggy laugh. Like Mom, Debbie barely came up to my chest. I’d already been taller than her by the time I’d turned twelve, but she’d always taken care of me more than most big sisters, then and now.
It was her time to take care of herself—and for herlittle brotherto grow up.
“Yes, you guys have a long drive.” I pulled her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her as tightly as I could. “I love you. Thank you,” I whispered, cringing when I caught her sniffle.
“I love you too. And stop thanking me. What are sisters for?” she said, her voice thick with tears as she pulled back. “Are you sure that you don’t need me to stay for?—”
“I’m fine, we’re fine. Stella will be here to help us. Go! Just don’t become Cubs fans or anything.”
“Nope,” Tom said, slapping my back. “Yankees, I mean Bats, all the way.”
I laughed, still holding my sister. “I appreciate that.”
Debbie and Tom couldn’t have children of their own. They’d tried, but when the process had become too much, they’d decided to make a life for just the two of them before they’d volunteered to help with Bennie.
And by help, they’d peeled me off the floor when I was at my lowest and helped raise my daughter with me for five years.
This new position would be a huge step for Tom. My sister already had a job of her own lined up, and I could tell they were both excited. It had been evident in their faces when the guilt I knew they had over leaving us would clear for a moment or two.
“Text me along the way. Hopefully you’ll make good time.”
“If we’re not in traffic forever,” Tom joked after he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Text us, Aunt Debbie,” Bennie said with a little wave.
My sister’s face crumpled as she nodded.
“I will, I promise.” She nodded, blowing her niece a kiss before rolling up the window. I smiled when I noticed the balled-up tissue in her hand as she dabbed at her eyes.
“What’s in Chicago?” Bennie asked me as I took her hand and led her back inside. “Anything cool? Do you go there with the Bats?”
“They have good pizza. New York pizza is better, of course. We always do a couple of trips, but I don’t really leave the stadium.”
“Can I come with you next time so we can see Aunt Debbie and Uncle Tom?”
“If you don’t have school, we can try.”
Asking Stella to meet me on the road was another big request I wasn’t sure I could make.
Bennie eyed me as she settled onto the couch.
“It’s okay if you’re sad, Daddy.” She pressed her tiny hand to my knee, drifting her pink-nail-polished thumb back and forth. “We can visit, and Aunt Deb said she’d text.She likes when I send her pictures from my tablet and make her laugh.”
The sweet tinkle of her giggle got me right in the chest, and I didn’t know whether to laugh with her or cry.
“Come here,” I said, kissing her cheek as I lifted her onto my lap. “I will promise you this much, kiddo,” I said, holding her tight to my chest. “We will always be together. You and I.” I tapped her leg until she raised her head. “Okay?”
She crinkled her nose as she peered up at me.
“Well, yeah.” She shrugged. “Why wouldn’t we be?”
I breathed out a chuckle when my daughter looked me over as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I wasn’t doing such a terrible job with her if that was how she thought of us, even with all the time I’d spent away from her.
I took in a long breath deep enough to almost relax.
“How about you and I pick some decorations for the house later? The walls look kinda boring, right?”
She scanned the walls, her ponytail swishing back and forth.
