“You know, I may be the baby of the family, but I still remember when you went off to college. How excited you were about the future. When Mom and Dad died, you lost that excitement. I know grief is a fickle bitch, but you’ve literally never put yourself first since. I know that chick in college had a lot to do with it, but it’s nice to finally see you just being happy.”
I’m speechless.
“Lenny, I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Oh, fuck off, Rina.” He huffs out a laugh.
“He’s right, though. I’ve never seen you this happy before. It’s noticeable just having a normal conversation with you. You’re a little easier-going, a little looser if that makes sense,” Willow adds.
“Did you know you haven’t been micromanaging the nursery at all in the last three weeks?” Rina smirks.
“Umm, no? I didn’t realize I was micromanaging to begin with.” I feel attacked, loved, and very embarrassed by my siblings’ observations. I had no clue they saw so much.
“We’re proud of you, big bro,” Lennox says softly.
Clearing my throat, I nod at them in acknowledgment. I don’t think I can talk right now with the lump in my throat. I feel less like a father figure and more like a friend to my siblings than I ever have before.
She called in sick.
Not just she’ll be a few hours late or taking the day off, no. Ainsley called in sick, and I’m officially in panic mode.
Is she actually sick? Or is she avoiding me and trying to let me down easy? I know I’m overreacting, but I feel like if something happened, she would just call and tell me, not call in sick. It feels like she could be using this as an out because she doesn’t want to tell me the real reason she’s not working today. Illogical, I know, but my anxiety is running my brain right now.
I haven’t even gone into work today. Haven’t checked out any of the jobs that are in progress, stopped by the nursery, none of it.
I’m pacing in my house, trying to figure out what to do.
We’re still so new. I don’t want to barge over there if this is her way of telling me she needs a breather. Although, I think that would kill me, honestly. If she felt like she couldn’t just tell me that, it would kill me.
Rina… They’re friends, right?
I realize how fucked up it is to text my sister to ask my girlfriend if she’s okay, but my anxiety is at an all-time high, so I don’t care. Logic has no place here.
Me:
Can you text Ainsley and check on her? She called in sick, and I just want to make sure she’s okay.
Rina:
And as her boyfriend, why aren’t you doing that?
Me:
Because if she called in sick because she needs some space, I want to give that to her, but I want to make sure she’s okay.
Rina:
Jesus, you’re worse than a high school girl.
Me:
I realize that.
She doesn’t respond for five minutes, and I’m really starting to panic. When my phone pings, I fumble with the keypad until I finally get it unlocked.
Rina:
She’s really sick. Apparently, kids have lots of germs and she is now infected. She told me she’s fine and not to come over.
