Page 67 of Make Mine Sweet
I’m trying to understand the problem but coming up short. “I thought they’d want to help you.”
“They do. That’s just it. They’ll adjust our schedules at the bakery, and we’ll work out a system to take care of him while the daycare’s closed. They’ll swoop in and rescue me,again. It will be fine.”
The look on her face doesn’t feel fine. Feels more like I want to pull her into my arms and hold her close. Keep her safe until all her problems fade away.
“I wanted so badly to step out on my own and prove I can handle life, and here I am less than a month later, ready to crawl back to Mom and admit I can’t do it. It just sucks to have to tell her I was wrong so soon, you know?”
I hate seeing her so distraught. I want to ease her burdens and help her smile again. Maybe I want to prove myself, too.
“I could watch August.”
The words are out of my mouth before they’ve had a chance to fully form in my brain.
She breathes a laugh. “If only.”
“I could.” Her easy dismissal makes me more certain I want to do this. That Icando this. “I’m right here. My days are free. He could be in his own house so you know it’s childproofed.”
No need to mention I don’t have a clue what childproofing entails.
She swivels her head to stare at me. “I sort of thought you didn’t like kids.”
I scoff. “I just don’t know any. Doesn’t mean I don’t like them.”
Her laughter comes out more genuine this time. “I can’t ask you to watch August for the rest of the week.”
“You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”
She opens her mouth but pauses. Considering. I’ve got a chance.
“You can ask Amy anything you want about me. Do a background check. Call my brothers.” I would absolutely not enjoy knowing she’s on a phone call with Pierce or Steven. But apparently, I would do whatever it takes to ease her mind about leaving August with me for a few hours each day so she can save face with her mom.
I know a lot about losing your pride. I don’t want that for her. Not if I can help it.
Tess continues to stare at me. “Why, though?”
Because you’re not alone. Because you don’t have to prove yourself to me. Because you’re worth the effort.
“I haven’t challenged myself in two years. This would be a pretty big challenge.”
Her mouth pulls into a frown. “You’re not making your case with that.”
“Maybe I just want to help you if I can. And I like the kid. He reminds me of me.”
At least she laughs again. “He does not. He’s very well behaved.”
“Who said I wasn’t well behaved?”
Her dark blue eyes glint at me. “Nothing you say could convince me you weren’t a troublemaker when you were a kid.”
And an adultgoes unsaid, but I swear she mentally tacks it on.
“I could get my mother on the phone to vouch for me.” Am I offering upmorefamily members for Tess to talk to? Mom wouldn’t vouch for me anyway—I fit the wild child accusation Tess lobbed at me to a tee. But I bet she’d love talking with Tess.
Getting ahead of myself here.
“I probably don’t need to talk to your mom yet.”
Not sure why that “yet” is such a hopeful little word. It’s like a glimpse of a mountain peak that’s been mired in cloud cover.
