by KB Winters
“You did? I want to see it.”
She lit up like Christmas morning and raced upstairs to get it for me. As soon as she left, Emmie leaned in to whisper, “It’s just a participation ribbon.”
“Ah,” I replied, nodding. Emmie was a natural performer and had won a lot of awards and trophies for her cheerleading team. Lottie, on the other hand, had a lot of enthusiasm, but not a lot of coordination, from what I’d been told. “That’s still good though,” I reminded Emmie, not wanting anyone to discourage Lottie. She was such a sweet spirited girl that it would be crushing to have someone bring her down. I didn’t want her to ever lose that zeal and fire she carried with her.
Ben and Lottie returned together, one after the other, down the main staircase off the living room. I stood up from the couch and Ben showed me his diploma and I ran my finger over the embossed stamp. “I’m proud of you, man. Honors and everything!” I pulled him in for a side hug. “I’m really sorry I couldn’t be there. Did you get the card I sent?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for the gift card.”
I smiled, but it felt forced. I hated that I’d missed such a milestone in his life. There were always sacrifices in being a soldier, but some of them hurt more than others, and missing my brother’s graduation was one that stung deeply. Lottie bounced over to me, waving her pink ribbon high above her head. “See? See?”
I laughed as I picked her up and did a twirl. “That’s amazing, Lottie. You’re a champ.”
I caught Emmie rolling her eyes, but Carrie quickly elbowed her.
When I set Lottie down, I took a moment to look around the living room, pausing at each face, and the heaviness swallowed me up again. Coming home was usually such a joyous occasion, that always went like this, everyone filled with energy and wanting to fill me in on everything that had happened since my last visit. It had been rough enough being across the country in Georgia, but at least then, I could text and call regularly, and fly back to Washington for big events like graduations and birthdays. But being overseas added new levels of complications to keeping in touch, and while I was happy to be home again, surrounded by my family, the reason for my sudden return smacked me in the gut like a sharp kick.
The mood shifted and silence dropped over the room like a thick blanket, squelching the rest of our happy, carefree catching up.
“What are we gonna do?” Carrie asked, sinking down on the couch beside Spencer. Lottie sat on the other side and snuggled into her side, gripping her little pink ribbon to her chest like it was a security blanket. All three of them looked up at me, their identical hazel eyes, searching me for answers.
I sat down on the love seat across from the couch, each piece of furniture framing the large, rock laid fireplace in the center of the wall. Emmie sat beside me and Ben perched on the arm of the couch. “Has anyone talked to Dad? Does he…understand?” I winced at my own question. I hated that there was a chance he wouldn’t even be able to understand the situation. His mind had deteriorated to the point that it was unlikely he would even remember who Patti was anymore. They’d been married for ten years, divorced for three. Towards the end of their marriage he’d started displaying the signs of the disease, and his condition had gone downhill quickly.
“Harrison knows,” Carried replied, her jaw set and stubborn. She hated that I called Harrison, dad, since he wasn’t our biological father. She’d never warmed to him, even though he’d been a saint to us compared to our real father, the asshole who had cheated on our mom, left us with no money, home, or future, and walked out the door when I was three and Carrie was eighteen months. Anyone that could do that, and never look back, wasn’t worth the title of dad. He was a donor, as far as I was concerned. Carrie didn’t hold allegiance to our absentee father, but she hadn’t been ready for a replacement either when our mother brought Harrison into the picture.
“Okay.” I nodded, wishing she would elaborate on the conversation. I’d have to ask her later in private.
“Can we go see him?” Ben asked, the rest shifting their attention to me, eyes wide and eager.
“I’ll call the facility and see what his doctor thinks. She might not want us all to come at one time. That would be a lot for him…”
Their eyes dropped to the floor and my heart crumbled even more. I had no good news or hope to offer them. The whole situation was dark and dismal and tragic. There was nothing I could do to change that.
No matter how much I wished I could.
* * * *
Colton and Miles came over later that night, bearing pizza, soda, and enough candy to open a sugar shack at a summer camp. I groaned when I saw the bags of candy. “It’s not Halloween guys.”
Miles shrugged. “All right, we got a little carried away…”
“We?” Colton said, arching a brow at Miles, who only shrugged sheepishly.
I grinned and rolled my eyes. “Well, the kids will be happy.” I called them all into the kitchen and for the rest of the night the mood lifted as we ate and talked together. They all knew who Miles and Hawk were, mostly from my stories—all the best ones involved them—and by the end of the night they were referring to them as Uncle Hawk and Uncle Miles.
When the sugar finally wore off, none of the kids wanted to go upstairs to their own rooms, so I got all the kids gathered into the living room, and I blew up an air mattress I found in the garage so I could join the slumber party. We all bedded down and had a popcorn conversation about some cartoon movie they were trying to explain to me, and the voices died off, one by one, as each one drifted off to sleep. At the end, it was just Carrie and I left awake. I couldn’t see her in the dark room, but her voice came over to me, “Lucas, what the hell are we gonna do?”
I sighed. “I have no idea, Carebear.”
* * * *
The following week passed quickly. Once we began to make arrangements for the funeral, the days were filled with Carrie and me tag-teaming between taking care of the kids and handling the services for our mother. The kids were on summer break, which meant they were home twenty-four-seven, and it was up to us to keep them busy and not bickering with each other, all the while, able to provide support and a shoulder to cry on as breakdowns happened.
I woke up on the day of the funeral, still in the living room on an air mattress, and I took a few minutes to collect myself. The house was stirring, and I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. The night before, the kids had finally gone back to sleeping in their shared rooms. Emmie and Lottie in one, Spencer and Ben in the other. Carrie had gone back to the apartment she shared, but came over every day to check on us and help out. I sat up and took a long, slow breath, before rolling off the squishy bed, reminding myself for the third time to find the air leak that was causing the mattress to sag in the middle.
When I stood and stretched, the wind knocked out of me at the sight of Emmie and Lottie coming into the room. They were both wearing black dresses, black gloves, and black tights. Tears pricked in my eyes at the solemn looks on their faces and their bloodshot eyes. They’d already been crying.
“Come here guys,” I said, throwing a sweatshirt over my bare chest as I stepped towards them. I gathered them in close, one tucked under each arm, and held them tight. They buried their faces against me and moments later, their sniffles carried up to me, making it damn near impossible not to lose control of my own emotions I’d kept in a tightly sealed contained deep inside myself since arriving back home.
“I miss mama,” Lottie said, looking up at me with her tear stained face.
I squeezed them both tighter. “I miss her too, Lottie. A whole bunch.”
It had been almost a year since the last time I’d seen my mother. I’d been home on a leave after finishing a tour, and had stayed at the house with her and the kids. Over the past few days I’d tried to bury the memory of the argument we’d had before I left. She’d been leaving to go on a date— some banking big shot—and I’d lectured her about staying home with the kids instead of dumping them off on
a babysitter, or leaving Ben to take care of all of them, while she went out. When we’d said goodbye the next day at the airport, things had been frosty between us.
Since that visit, we’d patched things up over a series of long phone calls, but there was always a certain degree of that argument lingering under the surface.
Now, I’d never be able to tell her how sorry I was for questioning her. I might not have agreed with her parenting methods, but looking back, I wished I’d kept my opinions to myself.
By some miracle, we all made it through the funeral service and the reception back at the house afterward. But, that night, we all went back to sleeping in the living room.
* * * *
Colton and Miles stayed for the funeral, but had to leave to get back to base the following day. I took a break from the house to see them off at the airport. They returned their rental truck and we said goodbye at the security checkpoint.
“Hawk, tell that beautiful wife of yours hello from me,” I said, as Colton pulled me in for an embrace. “Tell her to take it easy.”
“I will.” Colton nodded, his eyes gleaming with the shine he got whenever someone brought up Karena. She was carrying their first child, and I was honored to be able to watch them transition from virtual strangers to almost parents.
Miles embraced me second. “Take care of yourself man. Keep us posted.”
“For sure. I have a call scheduled to talk to Colonel Reeves tomorrow. I’ll know more after that, as far as when I’ll be back.”
I didn’t add in the possibility that it might be more of an if than a when.
That was a bridge to cross on another day.
Colton and Miles joined the line through security and I pocketed my hands after waving goodbye. I watched until they were both through the checkpoint. They waved one final time before rounding the corner to get to their gate. Once they were out of sight, I heaved a heavy sigh and headed back out to the parking garage to Carrie’s car.
When I got back to the house, Carrie met me in the entryway before I’d even made it two feet inside the house. Her eyes were dark and lined with stress and worry. “Lucas…Mom’s attorney is here.”
I nodded grimly. This was it. The time for the brass-tacks talk had arrived.
Carrie led me through the living room, where a man stood to greet me. “Jefferson Kent,” he said, offering me his hand. He appeared to be in his late forties and dressed in a conservative dark suit. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
I shook it. “Thank you. I’m Lucas Sprigg, Patti’s oldest son.”
He nodded, and I realized my explanation had been unnecessary. He obviously already knew who I was, and had been waiting to talk to me. “Shall we sit? I’ll try to make this as brief as possible, but we do have some things to discuss with you and Carrie, here.” He smiled kindly in her direction.
“Sure,” Carrie replied, ushering me to sit down first. Jefferson sat on the love seat, leaving Carrie and I the couch. I looked down at the scattering of blankets and pillows on the floor and wished someone had thought to clean the place up a little after last night.
“Where are the kiddos?” I asked Carrie. They’d been through enough. They didn’t need to be out here while we talked about the realities of life without their mother.
“Ben took them to the ice cream shop,” she said.
I nodded, and then took my seat. I gestured at Jefferson. “Okay, so, I’m assuming this is about Mom’s will?”
“Correct.” He folded his hands together. “I have the documents with me of course, but I thought I’d summarize before we dig into the nitty gritty. Patricia owned this house, free and clear. So, that’s not a concern. Her life insurance policy was for a million and a half dollars, and Lucas, you were listed as the beneficiary of that policy.”
I tried not to show my shock, but both the figure, and my name as the sole beneficiary surprised me.
Jefferson continued, “With that, however, comes an interesting question.”
I braced myself, my own fingers laced together, my elbows on my knees, as I leaned forward, waiting for his next words.
“The original will was drawn up some time ago, and left custody to your stepfather, Harrison McHenry. However, as he is no longer in good health, that’s not an option. The clause in the will, in case both parents were deceased, or otherwise unable to care for the children, is that you, Lucas, would have guardianship. Is that something your mother ever discussed with you?”
It was a possibility I had considered, since hearing the news of the accident. I knew someone would have to take the kids, and with both my mother’s parents and Harrison’s parents, also deceased, that left our Aunt Cassie, Carrie, or myself as capable adults.
“She never told me, but I’m not surprised.”
Jefferson nodded. “Well, I understand that you have a very important job with our military, and I’m not sure how that would affect this, but legally, you will be granted guardianship of the three minor children, Spencer, Emmaline, and Charlotte. As Ben is already over eighteen, you wouldn’t have legal guardianship of him, but I’m sure he will be remaining at home, and therefore under your care, for the near future at least.”
“Wow,” Carrie finally expressed her reaction.
“So, what if it’s not possible?” I asked, hating myself a little for even suggesting that I would shirk my duty to my family. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but my life wasn’t exactly stable, and I still had two years left on my enlistment before I could even consider a civilian life. I wanted what was best for the kids, and without knowing my options, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I was it.
“We would call your mother’s sister, Cassandra, and see if she would be willing to take them in.”
Aunt Cassie was a few states away, in Colorado, and had four children of her own. I knew she’d take the kids if the alternative was them becoming wards of the state and put into foster care, but I also knew that with four of her own kids it would be a burden on her and her husband.
“I’ll take them,” I said. There was a whole lot of fear and uncertainty in my answer, but it was the only answer I could give and still be able to look at myself in the mirror every morning.
“Glad to hear it. This is what your mother would’ve wanted,” Jefferson said. Only then, did he retrieve a stack of paperwork from his leather briefcase.
And, just like that, I became the instant parent of my four half-siblings.
Chapter Three
Isla
Four years of living in Washington state, and I still didn’t think I’d ever get used to the rain. Why on earth had my parents ever decided to move here?
“Isla, I need those reports.”
I jerked awake, and turned to smile and nod at my boss, Kevin. “Right away, sir.”
He gave me a curt nod and waltzed away. As soon as he was gone, my smile slid away, leaving a cringe in its place. The copy machine buzzed and hummed. “Maybe if you want things done faster, you could invest in a copy machine from this decade…” I muttered, willing the archaic machine to move faster.
Kevin McGregor was the owner of McGregor Accounting where I worked as an executive assistant. I’d originally applied to work for the company after completing a certification course in bookkeeping. When Kevin had hired me, he’d promised that I’d start out at the reception desk and be moved into a book keeping position within a year.
My four-year anniversary with the company would fall on the twentieth of next month, and yet, I was still holding down the front desk.
I sighed to myself as I gathered the pages the machine had spit out and stapled them, adding them to the pile on the tabletop beside the machine.
If not for my young daughter, Lily, I’d quit and never work in an office again.
With the copy job finally complete, I snatched the last few pages, stapled them, and marched down the hallway to the conference room where Kevin had already begun the morning staff meeting. I ducked my chin and avoided making eye contact
with anyone—most of all Kevin himself—and handed a packet to each person. When everyone had a packet, I stepped to the front and set the last bundle at Kevin’s place at the head of the table. He sighed loudly and I scurried off, careful to close the heavy door silently behind me as I left.
I returned to my desk and huffed at the amount of emails that had piled up. Monday mornings were always the busiest and I made a point to get to the office as early as possible to get a jump on emails, phone calls, and faxes from over the weekend. But it never ceased to pile right back up.
And, sadly, it all fell on my shoulders since the other girl that worked with me, had up and quit a few weeks back and Kevin hadn’t seen to replacing her yet.
Cheap bastard.
I clicked my ear piece in place and hit a series of keys to bring up the voicemail messages that had come through while I’d been running copies.
“Miss Jenkins, this is Laurel at Sunshine Preschool. Lily has come down with something, and we need to have someone pick her up right away. Please call as soon as you get this, so we can arrange a pick-up.”
I pressed my eyes shut and bit my lip to hold back the loud curse that blasted through my mind.
I hung up the voicemail and called my mom, Angie, at work. “Hey honey. What’s going on?”
“I hate to do this, but Lily’s school just called. She’s sick and they need to have someone pick her up. Is there any way you could?” I crossed my fingers.
My mom sighed. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I can’t this morning. Did you try Dad?”
“Not yet. I’ll give him a try. Thanks anyways.”
“Of course, darling. Let me know if I can pick anything up on the way home. Poor little sweetie.”
I nodded. “I will.”
I hung up and dialed my dad, Robert. My mom and dad both worked full time, corporate jobs that came with cushy paychecks, but also a lot of overtime and responsibility. They’d supported me when my fiancé, Samuel—Lily’s dad—kicked me out of the apartment we’d shared when I was still only four months pregnant.