Steeling myself with a deep breath, I swipe open the call and put the phone to my ear.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Easton,” she croons, “how are you? It’s been far too long since we talked.”
Yeah, well, that’s never bothered you before.
I sigh, turning to lean back against the counter since my phone is essentially wired now. I don’t want it to die mid-call. That’d be rude.
Or at least I don’t want to hear my mother complain that I hung up on her.
She’s been calling much more than usual ever since Janeen’s death. It’s probably that whole “life is short” thing, but to be honest, I haven’t really appreciated the renewed effort to be a part of my life.
It’s that “too little, too late” thing for me.
“I’m fine. Things are as good as they can be.”
I know she wants more of an answer than that, but I’m not giving this conversation my all, and she shouldn’t expect it from me.
Just because I’m raising Jade now, the daughter of thefavoritechild, doesn’t mean that she gets to pretend like we’ve had a great relationship.
“Well, that’s good to hear. I’m sure it’s still been a rough adjustment. With such a big change and all.”
“Uh-huh.”
There’s a brief pause, and then my mother sighs. “And how’s Jade doing? She settling in alright?”
“As well as can be expected. As I said. But it’s fine. We went to the pool. She saw some of the friends that she’s made. All good.”
Tension ratchets through my spine. Where is my mother going with all this? This is the most we’ve talked on the phone since Jade first arrived.
I don’t like it.
“Okay, okay.” There’s a classic Brenda Hawke inhale, the one she makes when she’s gearing up to say something, and I clench my jaw. “Because you know if it’s too much?—”
“I fucking knew it.”
I’m pacing through the kitchen before I can think better of it, the charger cord for my phone popping out.
“Language, Easton.” Mom scoffs. “All I’m saying is that if you don’t think you’re up to taking care of Jade, your father and I will be happy to take her in.”
“It’s been less than two months. The summer isn’t even halfway over with.”
My grip on the phone makes the plastic squeak, and I worry for a split second that it’ll crack. But hell, if it did, at least I’d have an excuse to dodge my mother’s phone calls for a few days.
Sorry, Mom. Phone broke.
“Easton, honey, it’s just that raising a child takes so much time and effort. You’re so busy with work, which isdangerous, I might add, and?—”
“I’m fully capable of working and caring for Jade. Janeen put me down as her guardian for a reason. SheknewI could protect her.”
Mom scoffs, and I hear some rustling in the background that I have to assume is her getting up to pace around the room. She’s notorious for it, a trait she passed down to her kids.
“Protecting Jade is just part of the story, Easton. How often are you even around the girl?”
Rage burst through me. My parents, particularly my mother, clearly didn’t think I was capable of being there for Jade.
And they know nothing about it. I’ve been so damn focused on making sure that kid is happy and healthy. I’ve brought Hazel on for help, and I’m fucking trying, god damn it.
