“Here, let me help you with those,” Nina said, taking a couple bags out of Jake’s hands.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to,” Jake responded, but she was already walking into the kitchen with the bags. Food shopping with Dylan was an experience he wasn’t sure he could handle again. He’d spent half the time taking junk food back out of the cart that Dylan had just put in. The other half of the time, he’d tried to get Dylan to tell him what he and his brother brought to school for lunch. Did all parents need a nap after that? Because he was exhausted. Jake suddenly stopped short.
Parents. He was technically a parent now. It didn’t really hit him until that very moment.
“Oh, good, you found the pork loin.” Nina held up the meat. “I’ll just get this ready.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure I can YouTube it or something.” Jake walked over to the counter with the last of the bags.
“Nonsense. Why would you do that when I could cook this with my eyes closed?” She brushed him off and began gathering the things she needed to make them dinner. Again. He really had no idea what he would do without her and Eli.
Eli. Jake wasn’t stupid. He knew Eli fled again to his parents’ house because he’d been asking too much of him. He couldn’t even explain why he was turning to Eli so much. Hell, the boys knew Avery better than they knew Eli. But I don’t.
“Have you boys ever had pork loin?” Nina asked.
“I think my mom made it when I was little,” Jake answered as he began emptying food bags.
Dylan shrugged his shoulders. “Probably.”
Nina and Jake both laughed. “Knowing Maggie, you probably have.” Nina sucked in a breath as she looked at Dylan and paled. “I’m sorry. I—”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Jake walked up behind Dylan who was sitting at the counter. “There will never be a time when we can’t talk about your mom and dad. Right, kiddo?” Dylan nodded his head, and Nina released the breath she’d been holding. She smiled softly at Jake before giving a small nod and going back to her dinner prep.
“Uncle J?”
“Yeah?” Jake pulled a cereal box out of a bag and turned to put it on top of the fridge.
“How come Grandma and Grandpa don’t love you?”
Jake and Nina both stopped what they were doing and looked at Dylan. “Um…” Jake started to say and felt his pulse kick up a notch. He took a deep breath. “I…” But the words caught in his throat.
“Because, unfortunately, some people don’t know how lucky they are,” Nina told Dylan firmly. “Some people can’t see all of the things you should love about a person. They wanted your uncle Jake to be someone he isn’t, instead of loving him for the amazing person he is.” Jake took a deep, shaky breath and stared at this woman, who hardly knew him, yet was willing to see beyond the tattoos and stereotype. “Those aren’t real parents in my book.” Nina turned back to the pork loin with an indignant hmf.
Jake was floored. What he wouldn’t have given to have a mother like Nina. How it ended up that two people like Nina and Stan couldn’t have kids, but people like his parents could, he would never understand. Jake leaned down and gave Nina a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.” She blushed and swatted him away playfully.
“My mom and dad loved me and Nick no matter what,” Dylan said in a small voice, making both Jake and Nina look at him again. “I know Uncle J does, too.”
Jake pointed at Dylan with a stern look. “You’re damn right I do, kid. Don’t you forget it.”
Dylan just grinned and took the milk off the counter to put away in the fridge.
Eli walked into Inkubus on Monday morning and felt relieved in a way. He had a new sense of purpose. He loved working there and loved living in Brighton Pier. He’d make it work somehow, with or without Jake in his life.
The last person he was expecting to knock some sense into him was Zach. To hear his brother tell him that he was one of the strongest people he knew? Those were words he never thought Zach would say, but man, it felt good to hear.
“Eli’s back,” Kenz announced before pulling him into a hug.
“I only took a day and a half off.” He chuckled and hugged her back.
“Doesn’t matter.” She pulled back and stared at him, and she looked genuinely nervous. “You know this is your home now, right?”
He knew what she was asking. It was the second time he’d gone back to Riverside Falls in less than a month. “I’m not goin’ anywhere, Kenz.” She nodded her head, stood on her toes, and hugged him again. “Is he here?”
Kenz finally let go of Eli. “Yeah. He’s in his station cleaning up after a client.” She looked back in that direction, tucking her bluish-green hair behind her ear. “He’s been quiet.”
Eli gave her a half-smile then walked back to Jake’s doorway. When he looked in the room he saw Jake leaning back against the counter. He looked like he was in a fog and jumped when Eli knocked on the doorframe.
When Jake looked over, and his eyes connected with Eli’s, there was a moment where Eli couldn’t breathe. With the way Jake was staring intently at him, Eli wondered if he was feeling it too. “Hey.”
“You’re back.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Eli laughed and moved into the room, leaning on the counter next to Jake.
Jake shrugged a shoulder. “I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t come back.”
Eli looked down at the floor, scuffing his sneaker over a black line on the tile. “Is that what you want?”
With Jake’s silence, Eli looked up and was immediately caught in those chocolate brown eyes. Jake looked completely offended. “That would never be what I’d want.”
It was Eli’s turn to shrug now. “Half the time, I’m not sure you know what you want.” Jake opened his mouth, but Eli continued, “But what I am sure of is how much you want to do right by those boys. I know what they mean to you. And I know I want to help you.” Jake’s eyes studied Eli’s as if he was searching for a catch. He wasn’t going to find one. The air between them grew dense. Eli felt like the world was closing in, but it wasn’t until Jake’s lips met his that he realized what was happening. He froze for half a second before kissing Jake back. It only took a few seconds more for him to realize how stupid this was and pull back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Shit,” Jake rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Eli had no idea what he should say next. So, he pushed off the counter and took the easy way out, hiking a thumb over his shoulder. “I have to go set up for a client.”
Jake straightened his back and nodded. “Yeah, no problem.” When Eli was almost to the door, Jake said, “Eli.” Eli looked over his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re back.” Eli nodded in return and left the room, walking down the hall to his station trying to fight the smile forming.
“Your parents are contesting the guardianship in Kevin and Maggie’s wills.” Avery tossed some papers on his desk. He took his glasses off and dropped those on top of the papers.
“Shit.” Jake’s knee was bouncing, and his blood was pumping overtime. Were they out of their damn minds? To put the boys through this? It had only been three weeks since they’d lost their parents.
“I’m not worried, Jake. The judge has no reason to go against their wishes. They chose you as guardian of the kids and the estate. It’s just a fucking pain in the ass.” Avery clasped his hands and leaned forward, resting them on the desk. “The court date is set for a little over a month from now. Maybe they’ll back off before then.”
“Yeah, right. At this point, I’d bet money they’d go through with it just to spite me.” A mixture of anger and anxiety churned his gut.
Avery sighed and hung his head. “Well, I guess that wouldn’t surprise me either the way Kevin always talked about them.” Avery lifted his head and looked at Jake. “I always assumed Kevin was exaggerating. I mean, what kind of parents cut off all ties with their own son?”
“Shitty ones. Now they think they’re gonna raise my nephews? Hell, no.”
“Like I said, I’m not worried. Just keep doing what you’re doing and—”
Jake’s phone rang, and he tensed when he looked at the screen. “Shit. It’s Nick’s school. I gotta take this.” Avery nodded and sat back in his chair. “Hello?
“Mr. Novak? This is Ms. Stein from Brighton Pier Middle School calling about your nephew, Nicholas Novak. He and two other boys got into an altercation, and we’ll need you to come pick him up.”
Jake bit his tongue, holding in a stream of curses. “I’ll be right there.” He didn’t wait for the woman to respond, just ended the call. He put his phone on Avery’s desk then ran both hands in his hair, gripping it tightly. He didn’t know how much more he could take. How much could a person endure before they fucking cracked under the pressure? “Maybe they chose wrong, Avery.”
Avery studied Jake for a minute, his face showing no emotion. “We’re talking about Kevin, here.”
“Yeah? So?”
“So, there are four things I knew, without a doubt, about your brother. One,” he held up his right hand and began counting with his fingers, “he loved Maggie and the kids more than life itself. Two, he believed in you more than you ever believed in yourself. Three, he was a perfectionist. And four, he never chose wrong.”
By the time Jake got to Nick’s school, he’d worked himself up picturing Nick getting into a fight. That wasn’t like his nephew at all. Jake walked into the school office and saw Nick sitting in a chair against the wall. His bottom lip was cut and swollen, his brown hair was a mess, and his T-shirt was stretched out on one side like someone had been pulling on it. He wouldn’t look at Jake, even as he walked over and stood in front of him.
“What happened?”
No response.
“Mr. Novak, Principal Dwyer would like to meet with you and Nick in her office.” The woman behind the counter smiled sympathetically before leading Jake and Nick back to the principal’s office. Why the hell do I feel like I’m in trouble?
The office wasn’t very big and immediately reminded Jake of when he was in school. He’d been sent to the principal’s office a time or two. Mostly because he was a sarcastic little shit back then. Not much has changed. He smirked at the memory then remembered where he was and wiped the smile from his face.
“Mr. Novak, Nick,” the principal stood up and pointed to the chairs in front of the desk, “have a seat.” Once they all sat down, she motioned to the man sitting in a chair off to the side. “Mr. Novak, this is Mr. Thomas, one of the school counselors.” Jake looked at the man then back at Principal Dwyer. “As you already know, there was incident in school today involving Nick and two other boys. The two students are claiming Nick started it, but Nick has refused to tell us what happened.”
Jake looked at Nick sitting next to him while Nick sat stoic, looking out the window past the principal’s head. “Nick, you need to tell us what happened, bud.” When Nick didn’t respond, Jake looked helplessly at the principal.
She smiled warmly at Jake in understanding. “We’ve never had an issue with Nick before. We’re sending him home today, but he’ll be able to return to school tomorrow.” Then she looked at Nick. “Nicholas, I expect that this sort of thing won’t be happening again. Is that clear?”
When he didn’t answer Jake nudged Nick with his elbow. “Hey. Don’t be rude.”
Nick huffed and mumbled, “Yeah.”
The principal looked at Jake and shook her head, putting her hand up as if to say, it doesn’t bother me. She was probably used to getting pre-teen attitude. “Nicholas, can you please wait for your uncle in the front office?” Nick nodded then stood up and left the room. The principal sighed. “I understand how difficult this is for all of you. No child should have to go through what Nick is going through.” She looked at the man in the chair. “Mr. Thomas?”
The guy cleared his throat and turned to Jake. “Mr. Novak, I think Nicholas would benefit from having someone to talk to.”
“He won’t talk to me,” Jake snapped defensively. Damn, he’d tried so many times.
Mr. Thomas put his hand up and quickly clarified. “I’m not implying that you haven’t tried. I’m simply saying, there are other options. There’s a school psychiatrist in the district—”
“Psychiatrist?” Jake felt his blood pressure rise. His nephew was grieving, not crazy.
“Mr. Novak,” the principal said in a firm, no-bullshit tone, “Nick has suffered a traumatic loss. It’s hard enough losing one parent, but both? That’s difficult for anyone to go through, let alone a twelve-year-old boy. No one is saying you’re not doing right by those boys. I believe they’re incredibly lucky to have you.” Jake began to calm down and relaxed back in the chair. “But what all of us are doing for him isn’t enough. That’s no fault of yours or ours. It’s simply a matter of qualifications. I’m not qualified, neither are you nor Mr. Thomas, to help Nick deal with the emotional impact all of this is having on him.” She looked back at the counselor and nodded her head for him to go on.
Mr. Thomas nodded and continued. “There’s a school psychiatrist in the district, but if you’re not comfortable having Nick speak to him, then your doctor can recommend some reputable child therapists in the area. It may actually help him to have someone to talk to who is completely removed from the situation and the school. Talk to Nick’s pediatrician’s office. They can usually recommend some therapists in your insurance network.”
He knew this was not the time to be stubborn, yet it was on the tip of his tongue to tell them all to go to hell. Instead, he said, “Yeah, okay.”
Jake stood and thanked them both, but before he could open the door, the principal reassured him, “We’re all on the same side here.” Jake looked back at her. “Nick’s.” He nodded his head in agreement and left.
When they got in the car, Jake released a deep, weary breath. He didn’t start the car; just sat there and tried to figure out what to say to his nephew. “Why wouldn’t you tell them what happened?”
Silence.
“Nick, you gotta help me out here. This isn’t like you.” Jake looked over at Nick, but Nick continued to stare blankly out the windshield. Jake shook his head in aggravation. “I don’t even know how to punish you. You already won’t come out of your room.”
When he was still met with silence, Jake started the car and drove home, and the whole time all he could think was…Kevin, you’d know what to do.