Page 77 of The Yips

I jumped up to lead the way and help Kelsey with the baby. “I can handle him if you want to visit with your sister.”

“No, we can do this together, then visit with them.” Kelsey tipped her head, meeting my eyes before nodding and following me to our guest bedroom.

CHAPTER 67

Kelsey

Ishould have been intimidated by Josie, but she was far too likable for me to notice how different we were. And she was so much like Sam that I was instantly comfortable with her. She’d brought me out early for a day of shopping, and when she caught me checking the price tags, she tsked.

“I know you have a fresh AMEX in your wallet, and Sam told me to make sure you used it.”

“But I don’t need anything,” I protested as she sent the store attendant back with a new dress for each of us.

“Do you think I need anything? Sam mentioned that Monica picked out the last couple of dresses. I’ll admit, she did okay. But give me a chance to do better.”

“I don’t need more than the two dresses he’s already bought.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You can’t wear the same dress to another event. You’ve already been photographed in it. The shoes were amazing, too, but now they’ve been seen.”

I tried on everything she put in front of me, and to alleviate my guilt, she made the final call on what to purchase. Ihanded over the credit card, and she covered my ears as the total was read out.

Me: I love your sister, but she’s spending your money like you lost a bet.

Sam: She’s been waiting to get me back for when I ruined a surprise she had for Jake. I’m ready.

Me: I don’t need any of this….

Sam: But how does it make you feel?

Me: It makes me feel spoiled and a bit irresponsible. But also loved.

Me: And now I feel guilty because I’m not materialistic.

Sam: Please, focus on shopping and yourself for once.

Me: How is Crew?

Sam: He’s perfect. He was more than a little pissed at the fake nipple, but we came to an understanding eventually.

Me: Sorry, he hates bottles.

Sam: Considering the other option, I understand where he’s coming from.

“Are you texting my brother?”

“Yeah, I won’t lie, I’m not completely comfortable spending all this money.”

“If I didn’t see that you understood, Sam, I wouldn’t be out here encouraging you to rack up his credit card bill. You see him, don’t you? What I mean by that isyou understand who he is, not what he is to everyone else.”

“Yeah,” I whispered.

“Sam was always the caretaker. He protected me from my father’s anger, sometimes at his own expense. He did everything he could to be the perfect son, always with the hope that if he were perfect, our father wouldn’t need to drink. He’s always taken that burden on himself. And while initially, I feared that you guys were one more thing he needed to take care of, I realized how he was healing in front of my eyes. He’s softer than he looks.”

“Yeah. I don’t have any friends with kids, but I always see women complain about how little help they get with their babies or older kids. He never hesitates. Even now, look around. Look at the fathers. Watch them stare at their phones as their wives handle the kids. I can’t help but feel like I will wake up and it’s all a lie. Like there is no way that Sam can be real.”

“He’s real, Kelsey. But you’re the first one outside our family to see that side of him. He’sneverlet in anyone else. By the way, Gramps told me what you told my father and how you stuck up for Sam. If I didn’t already love the shit out of you, that moment did it for me.”

We continued shopping, or Josie did; she just asked me to fork over the card when she was done. I wasn’t convinced I needed three cocktail dresses, but I loved the Gucci crossbody she’d picked for me. Yep, that was something I never would have bought myself.

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