Page 35 of Carry Me Home
Jack
There’s a slice left. I’ll set it aside for her.
“Areyou sure you don’t mind?” Essie asked. Her gaze bounced from me to Maya and back again.
“I told you, it’s not a big deal,” I said. “I was going to the Painted Cat anyway. And Maya likes me. Don’t you, Maya?”
Maya looked sideways. “You’re all right.”
“See? She thinks I’m fantastic.”
“That’s not what I said.” But the look she sent her shoes was almost a smile.
Maya had finished her snack, and I’d been all set to offer to walk with them to the Painted Cat when Mom asked Essie to stay so they could catch up. I suspected Mom was trying to force me out the door a little early, but since extra time with Janie suited me just fine, I didn’t mind. She didn’t work Sunday, but I’d texted her yesterday. Her reply had been short:I’m fine.
Since I had never known a single person to say I’m fine and mean it, I was immediately concerned.
“You know, you’ve been spending an awful lot of time at the Painted Cat recently. I see your truck parked there nearly every day.” Essie pursed her red lips, studying me. “You’re not trying to self-medicate your PTSD with alcohol, are you?”
I blinked at her. Nothing subtle about my twin. “Jesus, Essie. I don’t have PTSD. I told you that.”
“Then why are you drinking in the middle of the day like a statistic?” she demanded.
“Maybe because it’s the only place where no one treats me like I have PTSD,” I snapped back.
“Hmph.” She tossed her hair, the rainbow-dyed ends gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. Her eyes narrowed. “Remember how you said you were going to sleep with one of my friends to get back at me for marrying Brax?”
I crossed my arms. “What of it?” I asked, though I suspected I knew. Essie was too observant for my own good. If she’d noticed my truck parked at the Painted Cat in theafternoons, then she’d also noticed I wasn’t there on Sundays. Coincidentally, neither was her best friend.
“Maya, cover your ears,” Essie instructed. Maya obediently placed her palms over her ears. “You know, there’s a saying.”
I sighed. “What’s that?”
“Don’t fuck with single moms.”
“Or rhinos,” Maya piped up, because hands over ears were not really an impediment to eavesdropping.
Essie laughed. “Words to live by, Maya.” She wasn’t laughing when she turned back to me. “All of them.”
Janie didn’t looksurprised as I pushed open the door to the Painted Cat and Maya walked in ahead of me. Essie must have called her to let her know the change in plans. Her cheeks flushed as our eyes met, but she quickly turned all her attention to her daughter.
“Hey, ladybug. How was the pie?” she greeted her.
“Good.” Maya climbed up on a stool like she’d been there before. “Cat said to tell you hello.” She cocked her head. “Hello.”
Janie smiled. “Thank you for relaying that message. I’ll make sure to tell Cat you did so the next time I see her.” She leaned over the bar, hand outstretched like she wanted to smooth Maya’s hair, but when her daughter gave a brisk shake of her braid, Janie withdrew. “So. What are you in the mood for today? Do you want to go to the apartment upstairs and read a book, or do you want to stay down here with me?”
Maya looked around. It was quiet today, as it was most Monday afternoons. “I’ll stay.”
“Great.” Janie pushed back from the bar, then squatted at the cabinet. When she popped back up, she had her sketchbook in her hand. “I practiced some axolotls this afternoon. Let me know what you think. Do you want a glass of water?”
“Yes, please. With my special straw.”
“You got it.” Janie filled a glass with water from the tap and topped it with a pink acrylic straw. “Here you go.”
With Maya taken care of, Janie finally looked my way again. “Anything for you, Jack? Or are you just dropping Maya off?”
“I’ll take a beer.” I didn’t specify which one as I slid onto my usual stool. I’d been a regular for a couple weeks now. She already knew. “I’m staying.”
