“You know I’ll help you out, Ave. Whatever you need, I’ll give it to you or help you get it.”
“I know you will, and I appreciate it more than you could possibly know. But this is something I’m going to need to do myself. Save my own money. Get my own loans. Pay my own bills. I don’t need you running around cleaning up my messes anymore.”
“That’s what big brothers are for. We do the things we need to so we can make sure you are never without or hurting.”
“You, Nate, Will, and Trav are thebestbig brothers anyone could ever ask for. You guys all do everything you can for me, and I appreciate it so much. But sometimes, I just need you to hold my hand and let me make my own mistakes. I need you to trust me that I will be able to take care of myself and make my own decisions.”
“I can’t sit by and watch you hurt. Nothappening. Don’t ask me to do it. I won’t do it, Avery.”
I sigh as I realize we’re just having the same argument we’ve had since I was in junior high. Jake loves so fiercely and will do anything in his power to protect those he loves, even at his own expense. I lean forward on my tiptoes and pull him down by his shoulders to kiss his cheek. “I love you, Jake.”
He throws his arms around me and squeezes the air out of me in a tight bear hug. “I love you too, Ave. I will kill anyone who hurts you,” he says with a straight face, though I can see the twinkle in his eyes. I laugh and swat at his chest.
When he releases me from his tight embrace, I head into the living room to say goodbye to Brooklyn. She is organizing all her dollies on the couch, lining them all up by size.
“Uncle Jake, the dollies are weady!” I give her a big hug and kiss and tell them I’ll see them at lunch.
On my way out the door, I glance back to see Jake sitting on the floor in front of the couch, holding three different dolls in the crook of his arm. Though he’s trying to act like a big tough guy, I see the big smile spread across his face.
If the guys at work could see him now…
*****
It’s a surprisingly busy morning at the Law Office of Andrews & Levine. Mr. Andrews had two phone calls from previous clients that he didn’t want to turn over to his son-in-law, so both of those appointments were made for the afternoon. The phones were pretty busy, and the mail was on the heavy side today. So when I looked up and saw it was already almost noon, I was ready for a brief reprieve.
I grab my purse out of my desk drawer and head to Mr. Andrews’s office. “I’m heading to lunch. Want me to bring you something back?”
“Oh, no thank you. I’m going to meet my wife and daughter next door at the restaurant. If I can get my son-in-law off the phone long enough to join us, then he’ll be there too.”
“Well, I’ll be back at one then,” I say as I turn to head out the door.
Since I don’t have to pick up food, I walk the two blocks from the law office to the bakery. When I walk in, there’s a pretty big line at the counter. I wave at my mom and her part-timer, Sandra, and head toward the back table which wedubbed “Reserved for Family.” My head is down, checking my text messages on my phone when I hear, “Mommy! We picked Maddox up!”
I stop walking and look up from my phone. Sure enough, Jake, Brooklyn, and Maddox are all sitting around the table.
“Hurry up. These sandwiches are awesome but only when they’re still hot. I got you cheese fries too,” Jake says as he starts dishing out the food in the bag.
“Hi,” I greet as I approach the table, looking at Maddox.
“Hey. Jake couldn’t handle Brooklyn by himself, so he bribed me with cheeseburgers to come by and help him.”
“I can handle her. I just needed someone else to sit in for me this afternoon and play Barbies.”
“Wait. You never said anything about Barbies,” Maddox states matter-of-factly.
“Of course I didn’t. I’m feeding you first, and then I break out the fact that you’re going to be playing Barbies all damn afternoon.”
“Mommy, Uncle Jake said a bad word.”
“Jake, watch your mouth,” I scold him with abig smile on my face. I bend down and kiss my daughter on the top of the head and then scoot around the table to sit between Brooklyn and Maddox.
After I get Brooklyn settled with her food, I dive into my cheese fries like I haven’t eaten in days. “Hungry?” Maddox asks with a smirk.
“Their cheese fries are my all-time favorite food. I just wish I wouldn’t have to go run five miles just to work off the calories I’m consuming.”
“You don’t need to run. You’re fine,” Jake says with a pointed, big brother look.
I look over at Maddox as he gives me a once-over with his eyes. I can almost feel his eyes remembering what I look like naked. “Agreed,” he mumbles and quickly looks away before Jake catches him.
