Page 3 of Break Me
“Mmmm… If I didn’t know better, I’d say you liked the guy.” She slipped into the kitchen before I could smack her again.
Groaning, I trailed behind her, using as little effort as possible. That’s how exhausted I was. Suddenly, a glass of wine was presented in a big girl glass stem, my sister shifting it back and forth as if a peace offering. “You get to live. Thank you.”
Kristine chuckled. “The moment you pulled into the driveway, I could tell you needed some liquid libation.”
“Your radar is too accurate.”
“Mommy. See? I drew this for you.” As soon as Emily bounded into the room, she coughed and every muscle in my body instantly bristled. I was prepared for an attack.
But it never came.
She was winded but went on jabbering about one stick figure being me, another one Daddy in heaven. She’d drawn plenty of similar pictures over the last few months, but for some reason, another reminder that her daddy and the man I’d been married to was in heaven was almost too much.
Kristine noticed my reaction and crouched down to Emily’s level. “Hey, girlie poo. Remember I promised you an ice cream sandwich if you ate your broccoli. Well, you did!”
Emily gasped and looked up. “I wuv you, Auntie Krissy.”
“And I love you too. Let’s get you settled at the table and I’ll get the treat for you.”
My sister had been a rock after my husband Sean had been killed, picking up the pieces more times than I could count. I didn’t know what I would have done without her.
As I sipped my wine, I leaned against the counter, watching their interaction. Between my sister and Sean’s family every once in a blue moon, my daughter was a lucky little girl who had a decent support system. Although I wished her uncle would pay her more attention.
It was me who felt lonely, still angry about the horrible turn in our lives. Maybe that was selfish of me, but most nights I could barely sleep and my days were constantly long and draining both mentally and physically.
Even if I did love my job.
“There you go, little buttercup,” Kristine cooed as she tousled Emily’s hair before joining me against the counter.
“Did she really eat her broccoli?” The moment she looked away, I allowed a slow growl to slip past my lips. “You and your little white fibs.” My daughter loathed what she called the trees of doom. She’d learned that from her favorite Instagram and TikTok account my sister had introduced her to.
First, adorable Golden Retrievers.
Next? Boy bands.
“Well, she did eat some.”
We both laughed. “You spoil her. Just like you do with me. This wine. I can see fresh bread and bags of cookies over there. The last time I checked, I didn’t have those or any wine in the house.”
“Well, you do now.” Her tone was haughty. “Oh, come on. You deserve a break, Halle. You work constantly. You won’t allow me to give you any money.”
“Because you’re just starting to put the pieces of your life and career together. I’m not taking money from you.”
“A few bags of groceries were the least I can do.”
“What about all the babysitting you do for me? You practically live here. I can’t imagine being forced to work on your laptop. You’ve got an apartment.”
“Oh, please,” she snorted. “That rat trap? There’s never a quiet moment even at three o’clock in the morning. It’s quiet here and you have a lovely backyard with amazing patio furniture where I can edit videos and create. Emily loves her swing set so it’s a perfect setup.”
“Furniture you purchased for me.” And a hand-me-down swing set.
“Stop. You’re my sister.”
“Why don’t you move?” Until recently, my sister had been as poor as a church mouse, finding a tiny little studio apartment smack in the middle of the casino district. At first, she’d said being so close to vibrant energy was exciting. She’d soon learned all about the seedier side of Las Vegas. “You have some money saved now. Use it for yourself.”
“Well, only if we can find a larger house together. Think about it.”
Ordinarily, I would have immediately said no. There were memories here. There was love in every picture and every pillow. Sean’s scent was still here. But I’d learned after all this time that my home was where my daughter was. “Maybe.”
