Callie stood in the hall outside of her brother’s home study. She really didn’t want to talk to him, but she knew she didn’t have a choice. Despite how he’d not been interested in her ideas for offering child-specific foods and packages, he’d totally come through on everything else.
The annoying lever on the cellophane machine had been fixed and HR had issued a statement revising the vacation policy to allow employees to donate their days off to someone else. Both of the issues were far more important than her ideas about cupcakes in a jar, she told herself. She would thank Malcolm and move on.
She knocked on the door and waited for his “Come in.” She mentally braced herself before walking inside and faking a smile.
“Do you have a second?” she asked.
“Sure. What’s up?”
He motioned to the chair opposite his desk but she figured she wouldn’t be there long enough to bother sitting down.
“I wanted to thank you for following through at work,” she said. “The lever is much better now and Frankie can take off three days next week to be with Levi when he has his next round of treatments.”
Malcolm’s gaze was steady. “You’re welcome. Thank you for bringing the problems to my attention. The lever should have been fixed immediately. As for the HR policy, that misunderstanding has been taken care of.”
“I noticed my supervisor has been out for a couple of days.”
“He’s getting retrained.”
She couldn’t help smiling. “If this were a science fiction movie or an action thriller, retrained could have ominous consequences.”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that.”
He stood and walked around the desk until he was in front of her. “Callie, I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance to tell me your ideas before. I know how you feel about separating work from home so I won’t ask you to tell me about them now, but I really would like to talk about what you were thinking.”
She searched his face as if she could find answers there. While she wanted to believe him, honestly, she just wasn’t sure she could trust him.
“What?” he asked, his voice filled with frustration. “What did I say wrong now?”
“Nothing. I’ll put together some material and set up a meeting.”
His jaw tightened, then relaxed. “Callie, I don’t want to be the asshole brother. You’re my sister and I want you to be happy here. I want us to get along. I don’t know why we got off on the wrong foot, but I’d really like to know if you think we can change that now.”
Okay, that was honest, she thought, a little surprised he was willing to put it all out there. Maybe she should return the favor.
“I thought you were judging me.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I thought you were judging me about having been in prison, that you were waiting for me to steal the family silver.”
“I don’t think there is any family silver.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He motioned to the chair again. “Can you please sit down?”
“Sure.”
She plopped into the chair. He surprised her by taking the one next to her rather than returning to his desk.
“I was judging you,” he admitted. “I didn’t know what to expect. I guess I had some caricature in my mind. I’m sorry.”
“Me, too. I’m not a bad person, Malcolm.”
“I know. When it comes to Keira you’re a much better sibling than I am.” He leaned back against the chair. “Parenting sucks and I’m always getting it wrong.”
“You’re not doing so bad.”
“I’ve left Keira to take care of herself. I didn’t get her into counseling.” His gaze met hers. “I didn’t know she was scared of her bedroom and sleeping in the closet. I didn’t know about the nightmares and the screaming.”
Callie felt herself flush. “That’s getting better. She hardly ever has nightmares anymore and she’s sleeping in her bed more and more.”
“See? You know that and I don’t. It’s not that I don’t care about her. It’s just...”
She waited, wondering what he was going to say.
“I’m not very good with people,” he admitted. “In high school, I was all about learning and getting into college. I hardly had any friends. Santiago really helped loosen me up.”
She did her best not to react to hearing Santiago’s name. Just thinking about him made her feel all fluttery inside—which was incredibly stupid. She was very aware that she was living on borrowed time with him. The second he found out about her past, he was going to dump her and run for the hills.
“You were good for him, too,” she said, trying to sound casual instead of giddy. “That’s what friendship is about. Helping each other.”
“I’d like us to be friends.”
“Me, too.” The words were automatic and it took her a second to realize she meant them. “Look, we have something in common.”
“More than that. We’re related by blood.”
Something she still had trouble processing. “I know almost nothing about our father. What I have heard isn’t great. My mom never said much and I know she loved me, but I’m sure getting pregnant and then having to be a single mom totally messed up her life.”
She thought about how Keira had been abandoned by her mother, her own tough circumstances. She wasn’t sure what had gone on between Malcolm and Jerry, but she sensed they hadn’t been close.
“Is there anything positive you can tell me about our father?” she asked.
He thought for a second. “He was really good with women.”
Callie started to laugh. Malcolm joined in and for that moment she thought everything was going to be okay.
* * *
“What time is it?” Noah asked for the fifth time in less than five minutes. “I don’t want to miss it.”
Santiago shook his head. “Noah, we’re not going to miss it.”
“But what if we do?”
“Do you want to run ahead and meet us there?”
“Yes.”
Noah took off at a run but before Santiago could tell him to slow down, the boy began to walk. Okay—it was a fast walk, but still.
“He does this every time,” Emma said, looking at her brother. “We never miss the demonstration.”
“I know, but he’s a worrier.”
Santiago brought his niece and nephew to Chihuly Garden and Glass a couple of times a year. They loved the beautiful glass, the incredible colors and ways the displays were set up. While Emma enjoyed all of it, Noah’s favorite part was the glassblowing demonstration at the end.
They walked more sedately, pausing to study favorite pieces. As they moved into a room with a magnificent glass ceiling, Emma moved close.
“Uncle Santiago, can I talk to you about something?”
He figured he was on safe ground. Hanna and her daughter were close. From all he’d heard, Emma had lots of friends and did great in school. “Sure. What?”
She thought for a second. “I guess it’s not a question. Not really. Mom and Dad are fighting all the time and I don’t know what to do.”
He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “I’m sorry you know about that.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Everyone knows about that. They get really loud sometimes. Dad doesn’t like that Mom went back to college to become a nurse. I don’t get that. She’s really smart and she’s worked so hard. Shouldn’t he be proud of her?”
Santiago realized he was in way over his head with this conversation, but there was no escaping it now.
“You’re right. She’s done so well for herself. We’re all proud of her. She’s going to be a great nurse.”
Emma looked at him. “What about Dad? Why is he so mad all the time?”
“That’s kind of complicated,” he admitted. “When your parents first got married, your mom stayed home with you and your brother. That’s how things were for a long time. Now everything is different.” He brightened. “Remember when you and your family moved into the house? You were scared because you thought you’d miss your old school and your friends there, but it worked out all right. This is like that.”
She considered his words. “You’re saying Dad doesn’t like change.”
“I’m saying change is usually difficult and a little scary. At least at first.”
There was no way he was going to talk about how Paulo felt threatened by his wife’s change in circumstance. Santiago would guess his brother was feeling left behind. Yes, the extra money would be nice, but at what price? What if Hanna started expecting more of her husband?
They continued walking through the displays and finally reached the open area. A crowd had started to collect for the demonstration. Emma grabbed his arm to keep him from joining Noah.
“Are my mom and dad going to get a divorce?”
Santiago stared into her beautiful eyes. He wanted to tell her everything would be fine, that of course her parents would stay together. Only he didn’t know for sure and this was one problem he couldn’t fix for them. They were going to have to do that themselves.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I don’t think so, but it’s not up to me. What I am sure of is they both love you and your brother. No matter what, they’ll take care of you, as I will and your grandmother, too.”
“That doesn’t make me feel a lot better,” she admitted. “But I get it. I hope they can work things out. A couple of my friends went through a divorce and it sucks.”
“I know, kid. I know.”
* * *
Malcolm waited for his sister in her room. Keira was due home from her friend’s house by four and as far as he knew, she was always on time. He sat on the floor with Lizzy. The cat was growing fast—she’d nearly doubled in size since she’d been rescued. She was a friendly, playful bundle of fur. When she started to climb his shirt, he pulled her free, then held her against his chest. She curled up in his hands and purred, rubbing her head against his chin.
This was nice, he thought in some surprise. He’d never had pets growing up and hadn’t ever seen the point to have one as an adult. But Lizzy was a good kitten. Maybe he should think about getting a dog or something.
Before the thought fully formed, he pushed it away. Right—when would he take care of a dog? The last thing he needed was to be responsible for one more life.
He continued to pet Lizzy. The kitten eventually fell asleep clearly oblivious to his very uncomfortable position supporting her. He lowered her to the carpet where she mewed a protest before giving his hand a quick lick, then falling back asleep.
“What are you doing here?”
He looked up and saw Keira in the doorway to her room. “Waiting for you. Lizzy was keeping me company.” He stayed where he was. “I almost never see you these days and I wanted to see how you were doing.”
Her expression stayed wary as she walked into her room. She wore jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and colorful tennis shoes. When she’d first arrived, she’d been underweight, but today she looked less gaunt and more relaxed.
Keira tossed her jacket on her bed, then sank down on the carpet a few feet away. “What did you want to talk about?” she asked cautiously. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Not that I know about. Did you?”
She flashed him a smile. “No. I’m actually a really good kid. You should be grateful. I could be acting out in all kinds of ways. Stealing, breaking things, hoarding food.”
All things he’d never thought about. “We are lucky. Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, I should have chores. I’m nearly thirteen and you need to be teaching me responsibility.”
Something else he’d never thought of. “You’re right. Do you want to come up with a list of chores or should I?”
“I can do it. I already take care of Lizzy. Carmen checks on me, but I do the work.” She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “You know, there are a lot of books on parenting. You might want to read one or two of them so you know what you’re supposed to do. When I’m a teenager, things are going to be really rough. I’ll be talking back and borrowing the car and staying out late.”
“I can’t wait,” he murmured, thinking he probably should read up on what it was like to raise a teenage girl, although whatever any expert had to say was likely to scare the crap out of him.
“I’ll have the chore list to you by the end of the week,” she said. “Then we’ll talk about my allowance.”
“You already get an allowance.”
“For doing nothing. I’m going to be doing a lot more. You should pay for that.”
“I thought you were learning about responsibility. Isn’t your payment a life lesson?”
She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? I don’t think so. I’m a kid. I don’t want life lessons. I want cash.”
“Maybe we can work out a deal where you have both.”
She grinned. “Maybe, but I won’t like it.”
“Fair enough. How’s school?”
“Fine. I’m caught up with my assignments, I’m making friends.” She looked at him. “All things you already know because you have to be talking to my school counselor and I know you saw my therapist.”
She was an unexpected combination of child and adult, he thought. “I want to know what you think.”
She stroked the sleeping kitten. “I think you should be nicer to Callie.”
That surprised him. “What do you mean?”
“I hear you guys fighting sometimes. You should try to get along with her better. She’s really nice and fun and she spends a lot of time with me, unlike some people.”
Not a comparison he wanted. “Callie and I have different views of things.”
“Maybe, but hers are right.”
“You don’t know what we were talking about.” Although if she was referring to Callie’s suggestions about adding to the company’s catalog, he might have been too quick rejecting her ideas.
“I know Callie,” Keira told him. “I know she works hard and that she’s honest and does what she says she’s going to do, although I guess that’s kind of the same thing. I trust her.”
The last comment seemed more pointed than the others. Had Callie told Keira about her past? He didn’t know how to ask without betraying a confidence. He would have to speak to Callie about it directly.
“I don’t distrust her,” he said.
“That’s not the same thing.” Keira’s eyes narrowed. “You need to be nicer.”
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder. You can be mean to me if you want, but not to her.”
His sister’s words slammed into him like a sledgehammer as the truth revealed itself. Keira trusted Callie. She wanted to spend time with her. He had no doubt that on Keira’s phone, Callie would be listed under her name. The word asshole would never be mentioned when it came to her.
How had Callie done it? How had she cracked the code when Malcolm couldn’t come close? For the first time in a long time, he felt lost, alone and inadequate. He’d always assumed he was just like everyone else—that he would get married and have a family. That he would be a decent father one day. Only being around Keira was making him think there was something wrong with him.
He cleared his throat. “How about if I’m not mean to either of you?” he said, trying to keep his voice casual so she wouldn’t know how her words had hurt him. “And we’ll keep working on being a family.”
For a second he thought she was going to say that she and Callie already were a family—that he was the only outlier. Instead she nodded.
“I’d like that,” she told him.
“Me, too.”
The only problem was he had no idea how to make that all happen.