Page 76 of A Dream for Daphne

“Baked Ziti. There are meatballs in another container and some extra sauce and a loaf of bread.”

“Thanks,” Raine said. “I appreciate it. Looks like I’m going to be playing hall monitor with your brother for a day.”

“He was ornery after he was shot too.”

She’d taken a week off of work when he’d been discharged to look after him. It’s not like either of their parents were going to do it and Aster really shouldn’t have been left alone.

She hated even going back to work after that week but knew she had to.

Aster was stubborn and all they did was fight. It just told her that her brother was on the mend.

“You’d be too if you had to lie around,” Aster said. “You can’t sit still any more than I can or Raine.”

She looked at Raine. “He has us there.”

“I’m going to get you some water and your pills. Take one now,” Raine said. “Then you can have another before bed. Even if you don’t think you need it, it’s best to keep it in you for twenty-four hours. You heard Theo, right?”

“Yeah,” Aster said. “I heard him and remembered.”

The fact Aster wasn’t arguing over taking the pill was something though.

Raine came back with water and a banana, handed the pill over with the glass, then took the glass back and set it on the counter, giving her brother the banana. “Eat something so you don’t get sick on the pain pill.”

“Are you going to be this bossy with a kid?” Aster asked. “I don’t believe you’re like this with your students.”

“I’m not,” Raine said. “But I’m not responsible for them like I am you. I need you on the mend. We’ve got a wedding in less than three months.”

“I’ll be fine,” Aster said, snorting. “Did you think I wouldn’t be able to pick you up or something? I could do it now if you want.”

“No!” she and Raine shouted at once.

Daphne grinned and the two of them went into the small kitchen. He’d try to do it just to prove a point.

Not that her brother couldn’t see or hear them, but they did just walk away to let him lie down.

Raine nodded her head for them to go out back on the deck. “How long is he going to be like this?” Raine asked.

“I think he’ll be feeling fine tomorrow. Next week he’ll be ready to pull his hair out sitting around. He just can’t do it. It might be best if he does go to work. Zane will keep an eye on him. Everyone else will too. They are all little mothers there.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Ivy already said she’d check in on him daily. She’s at the plant most days.”

“That will drive him insane,” she said. She knew Ivy was a bit excitable for her brother.

“Yep,” Raine said. “And it will keep him in line behaving too.”

“I’m just glad this was a minor thing and he got it taken care of,” she said.

“Hopefully it’s the last thing he has to deal with from his gunshot,” Raine said. “But if it’s not, then we’ll deal with it together.”

“Do my parents know about his surgery?” she asked. She hadn’t talked to her parents in a few weeks and didn’t think it was her place to let them know about this.

“I don’t think he told them,” Raine said. “I mentioned that he should at least text them.”

“I won’t say anything. Not that they reach out. I think they are still pissed neither of us gave them any money. Not my problem,” she said. “I want to say I can’t believe their gall to even ask for it, but I’m not surprised.”

“Based on what I’ve been told, neither am I,” Raine said. “Tell me how things are going with you and Abe. Maybe we can try to have dinner with you guys next weekend.”

“Abe’s mother is flying into town for a few weeks. She’s coming next week. She wants to meet Laurel and me.”

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