Page 62 of By Your Side
Briar’s mouth dropped open. “That’s such crap. Grandpa is here every night that Noah isn’t. What’s the problem with that? We could even stay alone if we had to; we’re old enough. You have to work, we know that. Like, it’s his fault you’re working. He left us.”
“Yeah,” I said automatically, but my throat tightened at the fierce look in her eyes. “He was also talking about Hunter.”
“Are you dating him?” Briar asked. “I’m okay with it if you are, just saying.”
“Yeah, we won’t say a word.” Lark interrupted. “Forget about that. I don’t have a problem with you dating Hunter either. The real problem is Dad is lying about you,” she said flatly. “Hunter only stayed here that night because we were all traumatized, and you were both on the couch. Nothing happened, and who cares if it did anyway? Dad lives with Danielle, hello? Why would he lie like this?”
“I don’t know,” I said, avoiding answering their question about Hunter. “But Ren is going to fight this for us, and I need you to know that no matter what your dad says, none of this is your fault. You aren’t to blame for his money troubles, or whatever is going on with them. You’re safe here. This is your home, and it always will be.”
Briar sat at the table, her movements jerky with fear, and probably a little bit of anger, too. “What if he makes us live with him?”
“That’s not going to happen,” I said, stepping closer. “You’re both old enough that the court will listen to what you have to say. You might not get what you want, but you will be heard. And Ren has all the evidence he needs to show you’re better off here if this is where you want to be. But if you hear anything at school, or if your dad says something to you, I need you to tell me right away. Promise?”
They both nodded. Lark’s eyes were shiny, but her jaw was set like she was ready to take on a war. Briar stood to hug me without another word.
I kissed the tops of their heads. “We’ve got this. I promise.”
“I don’t want to go over there anymore,” Briar whispered.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. We have an agreement I can’t break. But I’ll call Ren and see what he can do about that. Okay?”
She nodded. But Lark had already picked up her phone. I watched her fingers fly furiously as tears filled her eyes.
“Lark? It’s going to be okay—” I started.
“Yeah, it will be.” She looked at Briar. “I just texted and told him we aren’t coming this weekend, that we’re going to Grandma and Grandpa’s instead.” She looked at me. “I don’t want him to come over here and try to pick us up or mess with you. No way he’ll try to see us at Grandpa’s house.” She turned to Briar. “I won’t let him do this to us anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything before, and I’m sorry I told you to ignore it.”
Tears filled Briar’s eyes as she hugged her sister. “It’s not your fault. We’re not the same. And it’s okay if we handle things differently?—”
I wrapped them both in my arms, thinking of the way my sisters and I were always there for each other like this. “I love you both so much, and I’m so proud of you.”
“We love you too,” Lark answered for both of them.
“Are you okay to go to school today?”
“Yeah,” Briar mumbled. “I’m okay.”
“Me too,” Lark confirmed.
“All right. Let’s get ready to go, then. It’s time.” As the morning light filtered in through the windows, we shifted back into the gentle rhythm of getting ready for the day.
Lark slung her backpack over one shoulder, double-checking the front pocket for her notebook, while Briar carefully slipped the container of mac and cheese into her lunch bag. I kept a close eye on them as they moved with quiet determination, handing each of them a water bottle and offering a reassuring smile.
They had just left, their voices carrying down the walkway as they headed for the bus stop. I shut the door, then flopped onto the couch to think, or nap, or perhaps lose my mind a little bit. I’d barely settled into my internal worry-fest when I heard the low rumble of a truck engine idling in my driveway. I glanced at the clock, frowning, just as the sound cut off and footsteps crunched up the walk. A firm, friendly knock echoed through the house. For a moment, I hesitated, then crossed to the door and pulled it open.
When I opened it, Hunter stood there with a paper sack in one hand and two coffee cups in the other. He looked annoyingly good for someone who’d probably been up since before sunrise, hair a little mussed, eyes warm in the soft morning light.
“Breakfast delivery,” he said.
I arched a brow. “I didn’t order anything.”
“Yeah, you did,” he said with that slow grin that always made my stomach trip. “Every time you skip breakfast, you’re ordering me to show up like this.”
I stepped aside to let him in, the smell of biscuits, bacon, and coffee curling around us like a hug I hadn’t asked for but desperately needed.
We ended up in the kitchen. He placed the coffee on the table while I unpacked the bag. “You okay?” he asked, leaning against the counter like he had all day.
I stared at the biscuits for a moment before answering. “I don’t know. I’m worried about the girls. Lark texted Eli this morning and told him they won’t be coming to his place this weekend. And I can’t…” My throat tightened. “I can’t fix anything for them this time. I can’t control whatever is going to happen, and I hate it.”
