Page 30 of My Boyfriend Marks Trees
“A strange one.”
“Okay.”
Had to love his sister. No questions asked, just ready to help. “I need you to watch Greta—she’s my friend’s kid—while her mom and I check out some damage caused by some overnight vandals at her place. They’re staying at the farm right now because a neighbor’s place caught on fire and they need to inspect the townhouse unit for damage.”
“I know,” she stated.
“How?”
“Mom, duh. Because it’s not like my only brother ever calls.”
He cleared his throat. “I was busy.”
“I’ll bet you were. Anyhow, as to the kid, I can watch her but, rather than bring her to my place, meet me at the Arnprior fire station.”
“Why?” he asked.
“Because they’re having a Christmas celebration thing for all the firefighters’ kids. Derek volunteered to help. Grams baked a whack of stuff for it. Rumor has it Santa is supposed to show.”
“Shit, that sounds awesome. Let me run it by Charly.”
“Run what by me?” she queried, having entered the living room.
“Athena wants to know if Greta can go to the Christmas party at the firehall. Her boyfriend, Derek, is helping out with it, and it’s gonna have activities and stuff.”
“She’ll keep a close eye on her?” Charly chewed her lower lip.
Athena heard. “Tell her I will bite anyone that lays a hand on her kid.”
He changed it to, “Says she’ll guard Greta with her life.”
Charly nodded. “Okay. What time does it start?”
“Ten,” Athena replied. “But we’ll be there before nine setting up.”
“Okay, we’ll do breakfast and get dressed then head over.”
Greta was quite excited not only to attend a party, but also to meet Ares’ other sister. On the ride over, Charly handed her phone over to her daughter with instructions to call Ares if she got scared or uncomfortable.
Greta, in true kid fashion, which foreshadowed her teen years, rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mama. I’ll be fine.” Greta might be, but Charly was a wreck.
Her expression remained wan when she met Athena. Her smile forced when she said goodbye to Greta and told her to have fun.
As they drove over to the townhouse, he held Charly’s hand tight.
“It will be okay.”
“Not really. We already had so little.”
“You’re not alone,” he promised as he squeezed her fingers.
“Thank you for coming with me. I feel so discombobulated right now.”
“Holy big word. And let me say, you’re doing better than me. I would have probably gotten drunk.”
She snorted. “Such a guy solution.”
“Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.”