Chapter Fifteen

Since meeting Mar yesterday, I’ve done nothing but think about Riel. He’s taking care of his little sister. That is just unbelievably amazing. If Abbie’s right about him raising Mar, he probably does it all: homework help, taking care of her when she’s sick, grocery shopping, chores, errands. I wonder how long he’s been managing the parent role.

A role I know all too well.

Our momma, for all her mistakes, never up and left us, though. Never completely put me in charge of my sisters for days, weeks, or months on end.

I did, and still do, whatever I can to keep my family together. Riel’s doing the same. I totally relate to this side of him, and now I need to know even more how he’s paying for school after losing the scholarship. I need peace of mind I haven’t totally screwed him.

In my periphery, I see someone move and glance up. “Mar?” I look around the empty library. “What are you doing here?”

She smiles shyly. “Riel brings me here after school sometimes.”

“Oh.” I motion for her to sit. “Join me?”

Hesitantly, she slides a chair out and sits. Neither one of us says anything for a few seconds, and just when I’m about to break the silence, she quietly says, “You’re pretty.”

I smile. “Thank you. You’re awful pretty, too.”

This makes her blush a little, and my heart goes completely soft at her innocence and sweetness.

She treats me to a big grin, and I see the girlish version of Riel’s dimples. Those coupled with her green eyes and freckles make her so adorable I want to squeeze her. I know she goes to the junior high, but my goodness she’s small for her age.

I glance down at her green polka dot skirt. “That’s pretty. Great color.”

“Riel bought it for me,” she shyly admits, and my insides get all gooey at the thought of him buying her a skirt.

She turns her head and points to her braid. “He did this, too.” She crinkles her nose. “But it’s not very good. He tried, though.”

He braided her hair, too? Oh my Lord, I don’t think I take much more of this. “Want me to fix it?”

Her eyes brighten. “Really? Okay.”

She pulls her chair around to sit in front of me, and I quickly redo her French braid. “I can teach you to do this yourself if you’d like.”

Mar glances over her shoulder and timidly nods.

“Tell you what. Next time you’re on campus, find me, and we’ll have a lesson.” I think for a second. “Bring an old doll. We’ll learn on her first, then go from there.” I wrap the band around the tip of her braid and give her shoulder a pat. “It’s how I learned.”

A throat clearing has both of us glancing across the library. Riel stands in the entryway watching us, and I swear I detect a small smile on his face.

Mar scoots out of her seat. “What are you doing here so early?”

“My make-up exam went quicker than I thought.”

“Oh.” Mar nods over her shoulder at me. “Viola’s going to teach me how to French braid. Is that okay? If I learn, you won’t have to do it in the mornings anymore.”

He glances between us. “Of course that’s okay, but you know I don’t mind doing it.”

I jump in, immediately detecting something. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Mar, get your stuff and head on to the fitness center,” he tells her. “You wanted to do that Zumba class, right?”

“Oh.” Over her shoulder, she gives me a bummed look. “That’s right. See you later, then.”

I give her a little wave. “Yeah, see you later.”

We both watch her leave, and as soon as she gets out of ear shot, Riel turns to me. “My sister’s had a ton of disappointment in her life. I really don’t mean to be a dick here, but please don’t pretend to like her.”

It takes me a second to digest what he’s just said, and I’m at a loss of words for how to respond. “I wasn’t pretending.” It’s the only thing I can think to say.

With a sigh, he glances away.

“What do you want me to do? Ignore her the next time she says hi?”

He turns back. “No, that’s not what I mean.”

I stand up. “Well, what do you mean exactly?”

He sighs again. “Nothing. Just forget what I said.” He turns away, leaving me all kinds of perplexed, and I watch as he walks back across the library.

“How are you paying for school?” I blurt out.

Riel stops walking, and slowly, he turns. “That’s really none of your business, Viola.”

He’s right. It’s not. That was so rude of me.

Then he turns again and is gone.