Page 90 of This Life and All the Rest
Sam barks out a laugh and raises her eyebrow.
“Loyalty has an expiration date, Macon. My loyalty is to her now, and you’re not going to get shit out of me.”
She looks away from me to dig some Chapstick out of her bag, then applies it. She smacks her lips together, then looks back at me.
“You care so much,” she says, “you’ll ask her on your own.” Sam’s eyes flick behind my shoulder, then she flashes me a half smile. “See ya later, Davis.”
She walks past me and says something to Lennon. Lennon nods, then leaves with Sam. She doesn’t so much as look at me, and my stomach falls to my feet.
Ask her on your own, Sam said.
But how? And more importantly, do I even deserve to know?
TWENTY-FIVE
On the driveto Mom’s, it starts to rain, the water coming down in hard sheets and coating my windshield. My wipers can barely keep up.
I run into the house, getting drenched in the process, and kick off my shoes at the door.
“She’s asleep,” Claire says when I walk into the kitchen. She’s sitting next to Masters drinking a cup of hot tea.
“It’s okay,” I say. “I know how to move her without waking her.”
Claire chews on her lip a moment, flicks her eyes to Eric, then back to me.
“You can leave her, you know,” Claire says. “I can watch her. I don’t mind.”
I try not to look shocked. Claire has never showed much interest in babysitting Evie. I volunteered once a few months ago so Mom and Trent could go out on a date, and then it just kind of became my job. I enjoy doing it, though. I like having the squirt around.
“That’s okay, Claire,” I say. “I’ll take her.”
I start to walk toward the stairs, but Claire stops me. When I turn back around, her brow is furrowed, and her eyes are sad.
“Please leave her, Macon,” Claire says softly. “I want to watch her. I want to help.” She twists her hands in front of her and shifts from foot to foot. “I know I haven’t exactly been...present...but I’d like to change that. I just...I guess I didn’t feel like I was needed?”
She shrugs then takes a deep breath before hitting me with a sincere, determined gaze.
“I would really like it if you would let me watch Evelyn tonight, Macon,” she says clearly, as if she’d rehearsed it. “I promise I will call you if I need anything.”
I look over Claire’s shoulder to Masters. He’s watching us intently, but when he catches me looking, he shoots his gaze away. I have to stifle a laugh.
I consider Claire. She sounds sincere as she waits for my decision. It’s weird holding so much power over her right now. I could say no. It would hurt her, because this opportunity to watch Evie seems important to her.
I could give her a taste of everything she’s given me—givenLennon—in the past.
But I’m not that person. I never have been.
“Okay,” I say with a nod. “Let me walk you through bottles and morning routine. I can write it down for you, and then you can just call if you need help with anything.”
Claire’s smile is huge as she glances between me and Masters.
“Okay, yes,” she says, nodding eagerly. “Of course. And I promise I’ll call. Thank you.”
I manage not to show my amusement.
I write down a crash course on watching Evelyn, the same way Mom did for me that first time I babysat. I show Claire how to warm up the bottles, and then I say my goodbyes.
As I’m putting my shoes back on at the front door, I can hear Claire and Eric talking. Their voices are hushed, but their conversation still carries.
