He grinned, pulling the covers up to his chin.
“Cheeky little rascal, aren’t you?”
“Eva?” her father called, followed by her brother, “Morning, sis.”
Mathew ducked underneath the duvet.
Eva followed him. “Hey, don’t be afraid, Matty. It’s just my brother and dad.”
“Eva?”
Freezing, Eva contemplated staying under the duvet with Mathew. It might be safer than explaining her current situation.
“Hey, Dad,” she said, poking her head out. “You know this is John’s room you keep waltzing into, right?”
“Zac said he wasn’t here,” her father explained, frowning at the tiny lump next to her.
Zackary tapped his nose. “Comes in handy. Though I do scent someone else in the bed with you.”
Their father looked between them, his eyes narrowing just as Mathew’s head popped up.
“Err, Ev, there’s a tiny human in the bed,” Zackary pointed out.
“Everyone, say hi to, Matty,” Eva replied as her stomach did a tiny flip, apprehension seeming to get stuck in the back of her throat.
Her brother waved, grinning, but her father’s expression remained unchanged as if he’d shut down.
“Dad?” she said tentatively. The last thing Mathew needed was her father losing his cool and shouting at her. It was the last thing she needed too, because with shouting came tears, and she’d shed enough of those last night. Deciding it was maybe best to get out of the bed before John returned with breakfast and World War III broke out, Eva sat up fully. “Guys, can you give me and Matty a moment? I need to get dressed, and Mathew needs a clean diaper.”
Her father’s eyes bored into hers, so Eva looked to her brother for help, silently screaming at him to do something.
“Come on, Dad,” Zackary said, getting the message. “Let’s go make coffee.”
Jumping out of bed the second the door closed, Eva quickly pulled on the sweatpants she’d put on after Mathew had peed on her and then went over to the pile of stuff John had chucked into the corner of the room from his mom.
“Let’s find you some clothes, Matty, and a diaper.” Collecting what she needed, Eva went over to the bed and wrestled him out from beneath the covers, doing her best not to smile at his antics, and changed the first diaper of her life. It would have been far easier if Mathew hadn’t been laughing and kicking his legs. “Okay, buddy, let’s go out there and say hello.” Lifting him into her arms, Eva took a deep breath before facing the music and the inevitable argument which was coming.
Zackary was boiling the kettle when she came out, her father leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. Eva didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so angry. She had to admit she was a little scared.
“John is going to be back any minute. He went to get us breakfast,” Eva explained.
“And who is us, Evaline?” he snapped.
Mathew clearly picking up on the tension, turned his head toward her chest. “Dad, will you please tone it down? He’s been through enough.”
He didn’t seem convinced. “Mathew’s from the group they brought from Indiana yesterday, Dad,” Zackary explained. “Remember I told you about the kids with no parents, and you said how sad it was.”
“Hmm,” he grunted.
Sighing, Eva motioned for Zackary to come over. “Hey, Matty, this is my brother, Zac. Did you want to go show him those cool cars John got you last night while I make a drink?”
He eyed Zackary, not so convinced.
“I’ll be right in the kitchen, I promise. No one is going to take you away from me or John.”
Her father coughed. Zackary rolled his eyes, then smiled at Mathew. “I like cars. Can I play with you, pleeaasse, Matty?”
At last, Mathew nodded and struggled, indicating he wanted to be put down, before running over to the toys John had brought from his mom’s.
Okay…. Eva entered the kitchen feeling slightly queasy, her hands unsteady as she reached for some mugs. Coffee…. What do two-year-old’s drink? She glanced at Mathew, currently flying a red car through the air for Zackary, and then to her father as rigid as ever. “Do two-year-old’s need milk, Dad?”
“That question is precisely why this entire situation is not happening,” her father ground out.
Choosing not to bite, Eva asked again, “Should I give him milk, Dad?”
“Yes. I’m going outside.”
Blinking back tears, Eva returned to the bedroom, sure she’d seen a sippy cup in the pile of things John had brought over. “Aha.” She picked it up, washed it out, and then filled it with milk, before heading over to her brother and Mathew. “Hey, buddy, want a drink?”
Mathew took it without looking up, his focus on the cars, but proceeded to sip and play.
“I think you should talk to him, Ev. He looks like he’s about to blow a gasket.”
“I don’t know what to say to him when he’s like this, Zac. It’s normally you who’s causing him to act that way.”
He shrugged. “Do what I do then.”
“What’s that?” she huffed.
“Act like I’ve done nothing wrong, and like I’m not listening to a word he’s saying.”
Great advice, little brother. “I haven’t done anything wrong, Zac.”
“Should be easy then.” He laughed. “Go on. I’ll watch Mathew.”
Clenching and unclenching her fists as she walked across the room, Eva shook out her hands before taking hold of the door handle and glancing back to be sure Mathew was happy with her brother.
Okay, Eva, let’s do this!
Pacing up and down outside of the cabin, Eva’s father was attracting attention, and she was sure they’d attract more by the time this conversation was over. She supposed she might as well get used to everyone knowing their business if she was
