“I know better than to try carob on you,” she muttered.
I pressed my mouth into a hard line to keep from laughing. “You know what I think we need after this?”
Mia licked her fingers clean. “What?”
“Ice cream.”
Caelyn groaned while Ava and Mia cheered. Will couldn’t hold in his laughter. “Oh, man, it’s so good to have an adult on the side of a good junk binge.”
Caelyn’s eyes narrowed on Will in a mock glare. “You know, I’ve been kindly ignoring your stockpile in the garage. But I could get the sudden urge to do a little spring cleaning…”
Will’s mouth dropped open. “You know about that?”
“Know about what?” I asked.
Caelyn, very primly and properly, folded her paper napkin into a neat square. “Will has a trunk full of junk food in the garage that he thought was a secret.” Her gaze turned back to him. “But big sisters know all.”
Mia nodded solemnly. “That’s because they’re magic.”
I ruffled her hair as I looked at Caelyn, her green eyes shining with mirth. “You’re not wrong about that, Little Bit. Not wrong at all.” The first time I’d called Mia the nickname I’d used for my sister, it had just slipped out. It had shocked the hell out of me when it had, but now it just seemed…right. Something about the little girl reminded me so much of Beth. It was painful and yet warmed those dark places in my chest all at the same time.
As the kids continued to laugh and give Caelyn a hard time, something in the air shifted. Some sort of sixth sense borne of years living under a microscope let me know that there were eyes on me. I looked up to see a large table of women and kids. The children were busy talking amongst themselves, eating and laughing, but the women seemed to be stage-whispering to each other, their eyes every so often drifting towards our table.
My entire body locked. The sneers on a couple of their faces had my gut twisting. I’d been a fool to think I could venture into town with Caelyn and her siblings and not gain any attention. But I honestly hadn’t considered it. I’d only been thinking about how I could distract Caelyn from her nightmare of a day. How I could keep the kids’ focus on something other than their sister being late to pick them up and what might be wrong.
But, of course, people would talk. They would whisper about my history. Wonder why I was with the O’Connors.
A warm hand landed on my knee, searing the skin there. “It’s not about you,” Caelyn whispered.
“Of course, it’s about me.” It always was. And if she were seen with me, people would start talking about her, too.
Caelyn’s fingers dug into my flesh. “It’s not. I had a run-in with their supreme leader earlier today. They’re pissed at me and gossiping.”
My gaze jumped to Caelyn, searching her face. “What kind of run-in?”
Caelyn nibbled on her bottom lip. “Patti Jenkins. The one with the ugly sneer on her face? She’s always found it necessary to inform everybody of all of the ways I’m falling down on the job of guardian.”
“Seriously?” I asked. Caelyn was an incredible guardian. It would be impossible for the kids to be in better care.
“She’s just one of those miserable humans who needs to make herself feel better by trying to break others down. But when she told me I didn’t have good instincts because I wasn’t a real mother, I nearly lost it.”
“What?” I growled.
“I told you. She’s a real piece of work.”
I studied Caelyn carefully. “Tell me the truth. Did any of this have to do with me?”
Caelyn’s lips formed a hard line. “She mentioned you, yes. But plenty of other things, too.”
My stomach sank. It was starting already. The last thing I wanted was for Caelyn to have more on her shoulders simply because she had a friendship with me. “We can go.”
Her head snapped up. “Are you kidding?” My eyes widened. “We do not let ignorant, cruel people win. That’s a rule.”
Will looked at us, picking up on the tail end of the conversation. “She’s right. It’s a rule in our family, and if you hang with us, you have to follow it.”
I swallowed against the burn in the back of my throat. “Well, I can’t go breaking rules that would get me kicked out of the cool-kids club.”
“Dang straight.” Caelyn’s eyes locked with mine. “Don’t you dare listen to any nonsense or whispers coming from people who don’t know you. Or I’ll—I’ll—I don’t know what, but it’ll be bad.”
Will choked on a laugh. “When she’s really flustered or mad, she can never think up punishments on the fly.”
The tension running through my shoulders eased as I took in Caelyn’s flushed face. “I promise I won’t listen.”
“Good.” She slapped her hands down on the table. “Now, let’s go get some freaking ice cream.”
Ava giggled at the ferocity of Caelyn’s tone. “You really want that ice cream, don’t you?”
She smiled at Ava. “I might get two scoops.”
“Careful. You could end up in a sugar-induced coma,” Will warned. “Your body’s not used to all those sweets.”
She stuck out her tongue at Will, and he laughed. Mia held her arms out to me, and I picked her up. She burrowed into my shoulder. “Griffin?”
“Yes?”
“Will you come over after? I know it’s not Friday, but maybe we can watch a movie?” she asked, eyeing Caelyn hopefully.
I glanced in the same direction, unsure if I’d overstayed my welcome. But the truth was, I wanted any excuse not to leave her or the kids. I hoped the note had been left by her spiteful mother, but I didn’t want to risk leaving them alone tonight.
She threw up her hands. “We only live once, right? Movie night it is.”
Mia took her movie nights very seriously. After an intense discussion over what film to watch, we’d landed on an old version of Swiss Family Robinson that Mia and Ava could practically recite by heart. When the pirates attacked, Ava covered her face with a pillow while Mia mimed sword fighting as if she could defeat them herself.
Will was a trooper through most of it but finally called it quits halfway through to go and finish up some homework. By the time the credits rolled, Mia had passed out from her sugar high, and Ava rubbed her eyes.
“All right.” Caelyn climbed to her feet. “Time to get you party animals to bed so you’re not falling asleep in class tomorrow.”
Ava nodded sleepily. “Thanks, Cae Cae. Thanks, Griffin. Tonight was really fun.”
I grinned as the girl wobbled to her feet. “Anytime.” I bent to pick up a dead-to-the-world Mia.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Caelyn said.
“I don’t mind.” Mia weighed about as much as a sack of flour. “Can you point me in the right direction?”
Caelyn nodded, leading me down the same path Ava had taken. We stopped at a small room that had two twin-sized beds. Above each was a rainbow with their names painted on them in a glittery script. My gaze swept over the space, taking in as many details as possible. The small table littered with arts and crafts projects. A dresser with gobs of play jewelry on top. The photos of Caelyn and her siblings that dotted the various surfaces. It was warm and homey and though small, everything a little girl could want.
I laid Mia carefully on her bed as Caelyn pulled back the covers. I grinned at the brightly colored unicorns dotting Mia’s PJs. “I guess you were smart to make them change before the movie.”
Ava crawled into her own bed. “We always get too sleepy to change after.”
Caelyn pressed a kiss to Mia’s forehead and then crossed to Ava to do the same. “Got Scooter?” Ava held up a stuffed dog and nodded. “Got your nightlight?” She looked at the outlet beside her bed and nodded again. “Love you oodles.”
“Oodles and poodles,” Ava whispered back, her eyes growing heavy.
I silently followed Caelyn out of the room. “They are pretty damn adorable.”
She grinned over her shoul
der. “Most of the time. But when they fight…” She let out a low whistle. “It can get very high-pitched around here.”
I chuckled. “I can imagine.”
We came to a stop in the small living room, Caelyn shuffling her feet. “Any chance you want a really horrible night’s sleep on our couch? You totally don’t have to if it’s weird. I work for you and—”
“I’d like to stay.” I’d already been wondering what the chances were of me getting arrested if I slept in my truck outside the O’Connors’ house.
She let out a whoosh of breath. “Thank you. I’m trying not to let myself get freaked, but I am a bit.”
I reached out and squeezed her arm. I wanted to pull Caelyn into my arms, to hold her and tell her that everything would be all right, but that wasn’t my place. “I’m happy to stay. And it’s understandable that you’re feeling unsettled right now. Cut yourself a little slack.”
“Thanks. I’m going to get ready for bed and I’ll grab you a blanket and a pillow.”
“Thanks.” I surveyed the couch that would be my bed for the night. It was decent-sized but the lumpiness factor might make things interesting. I tried plumping up one cushion after the other, but it didn’t seem to do much good. But I could deal with anything for one night.
“Here you go.”
I turned at Caelyn’s voice and froze in my tracks. She wore a baggy t-shirt and minuscule shorts that had the air in my lungs suddenly disappearing. Somehow, even though Caelyn was petite, her legs still seemed to go on for days. Endless planes of creamy white skin. I couldn’t help but wonder what it felt like. If it was as smooth as it looked.
I gave myself a mental shake. “Thanks.” My voice was gruffer than I intended as I took the proffered pillow and blanket.
Caelyn toyed with the hem of her t-shirt. “Thanks again…for everything. It means more than I can say.”
My ribs constricted at her words. Caelyn deserved someone looking out for her. Someone who made her life easier instead of the other way around. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
She nodded. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning. Hope you sleep well.”
“You, too.”
Caelyn turned and headed for a ladder that led to a loft space over the living room.
My brows pulled together. “Where are you going?”
She turned, a smile teasing her lips. “To bed, in my loft.”
“You don’t have a room? You sleep in the loft?”
Caelyn’s cheeks pinked, and I wanted to kick myself. I hadn’t meant to embarrass her. She cleared her throat. “When we were looking for a place to live, this was by far the best neighborhood. I’ll take safety and good neighbors over my own bedroom any day.”
“That’s smart.” I couldn’t imagine how terrifying it would’ve been for a twenty-one-year-old to be searching for a home and having to consider the safety of her young siblings as she did so. “You amaze me.”
Caelyn’s body gave a small jerk. “Why?”
“Because you’ve handled more than most adults and did it while making sure three kids feel safe and loved.”
Her cheeks grew redder. “Any sibling—”
“No.” I cut her off. “Not any sibling would.”
Tears began gathering in her eyes. “Don’t you make me cry. I’ll be really mad at you.”
I chuckled, crossing to Caelyn and pulling her into a hug. “Don’t cry. You know I don’t handle the tears well.”
She sniffed through a laugh. “Not scared of much, but tears do you in, huh?”
When it came to Caelyn, they certainly did. I reluctantly released her. “Get some sleep.”
“I will.”
I watched as she climbed the ladder, thoughts about how easy it would be for her to slip and fall filling my mind. Thoughts about everything Caelyn had given up, to give her siblings the best possible life she could. I crossed to the couch, lying down and pulling the blankets up around me. The light from above clicked off, but I didn’t find sleep for hours. The woman with the green eyes haunting me each fitful hour did find me, though.
As dawn crept in, I groaned and rolled over. When I did, I jerked back, my heart hammering in my chest. A grinning face met me, just inches from mine.
Mia’s little legs swung back and forth as she sat on the coffee table. “I was waiting for you to wake up. Want to do gymnastics with me?”
I rubbed at my bearded cheek. “What time is it?”
“Almost six. I tried to stay in bed, but I was really excited.”
I chuckled and pushed up, swinging my legs over the side of the couch. My back screamed in protest. That couch was not sleep-friendly. “I think we’d wake people up if we did gymnastics.”
Mia shook her head. “We’ll go outside. Then we won’t wake anyone up. I’m not allowed to go outside by myself unless I have permission, but no one is awake. You’ll go with me, right, Griffin?”
Of course, I’d go with her if she asked. Because this little spitfire had me wrapped around her finger just like her big sister.
16
Caelyn
I walked down the steps of the back deck, the dew-covered grass tickling my flip-flop-clad feet. I couldn’t help the ridiculous smile that spread across my face at the sight in front of me.
Mia flew from a cartwheel into a back handspring. As she finished, Griffin applauded. “That’s incredible.”
“You could do it, too. I can teach you.” She began tugging on his arm.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Sorry, Little Bit, I don’t bend that way.”
Griffin’s chuckles and smiles were coming a lot easier these days, but I didn’t take a single one for granted. They still had the ability to sucker punch me right in the belly in the best possible way. He was truly letting my little brood in. The kids were good for him, and I hoped I was, too.
“Okay, crazy gymnasts, time for breakfast,” I called.
Mia jumped in the air. “Pancakes?”
“Smoothies first.” I held out two smoothies.
Her face scrunched. “Not the green ones.”
Griffin looked suddenly wary. “Green…smoothies?”
“She puts vegetables in them,” Mia complained.
I tried my best to hold back my laughter, but a little escaped at the look of complete horror on Griffin’s face. “You’ll like it. I promise.”
“I don’t like eating salad. I sure as hell don’t want to drink it.”
Mia turned to him. “You said a bad word. You have to do extra chores.”
He winced and covered her ears. “Don’t listen to me.” He mouthed sorry to me.
“Don’t worry about it. You’ll just have to clean up the kitchen after breakfast.”
Griffin grinned. “Fair enough.”
I held out a smoothie to him. “And you have to try this.”
He looked less enthused about that prospect but took the drink. Cautiously, he took a sip. His eyes widened. “This is…good.”
I rolled my eyes. “Vegetables are not evil.”
“Not evil, but they usually taste like…a word I’m not allowed to say around tiny ears.”
Mia giggled and tugged on Griffin’s free hand. “Come on. Let’s chug them so we can have pancakes!”
He shook his head as he let Mia lead him up the steps and into the house. I followed behind. Will was already at work stirring the pancake batter, and Ava was perched on one of the chairs reading a book. She looked up when we entered. “I got everyone water. Should I do juice, too?”
“Why don’t you ask everyone what they want?”
Ava looked up a little hesitantly at Griffin. “Do you like juice with your pancakes?”
He gave her a gentle smile, one that twisted something inside me in an almost painful way. “No OJ for me, thank you. I’m good with water.”
“I want milk,” Mia called.
We proceeded in the breakfast-making that looked a little more like semi-controlled chaos. But somehow, all managed to get seat
ed around the kitchen table with a plate of pancakes.
I took the platter Will handed me. “Okay, hit me with the good stuff. Three things.”
Mia practically bounced in her seat. “Can I have more than one? I have so many.”
My chest warmed as I unloaded a pancake onto her plate and then mine. “You can have as many as you want.”
She beamed and held up one finger. “Griffin played on the monkey bars with me. We had the best pizza ever even though it was a school night. We got to watch my favorite movie. And I’m teaching Griffin gymnastics.” With each point, she held up another finger.
Will snorted. “How are your splits coming along, Griffin?”
Griffin gave Will a wan smile. “Better than yours, I bet.”
Will arched a brow. “We might just have to put that to the test.”
I held up a hand. The last thing we needed was this turning into some weird, macho competition. “I really don’t want to have to take either of you to the hospital when you tear a muscle.” I turned to Ava. “What’s your good thing?”
She thought for a moment. My girl took everything seriously, even deciding her best thing from the day before. “We were all together. And it was a really fun day.”
My eyes burned and began filling with tears. Will groaned. “Seriously? You’re crying at that?”
I glared at Will through my tears. “It was really sweet.”
Griffin looked slightly panicked. “Are you happy or sad?”
“Happy,” I said, trying to get myself under control. “Very happy.”
The set of Griffin’s shoulders eased, some of the anxiety slipping from his features. Will chuckled. “You’re just going to have to get used to the tears if you plan on hanging around.”
Griffin rubbed his bearded jaw. “Tears aren’t my strong suit.”
Mia leaned closer to him. “Why? They’re just letting the feelings out.”
I’d tried hard to instill the belief in my siblings that no feeling was bad or wrong. And neither was expressing those feelings, as long as you weren’t hurting someone else. Mia let her feelings fly, no matter the situation. Ava was quieter about hers, but whenever we had our time just the two of us, she’d let them free. Will was more bottled up. Too many years with parents who didn’t give a crap, and a father who judged him for any tears shed.
Wrecked Palace Page 11