“Bent, I’m in the kitchen!” Jasmine called out.
He passed through the lobby area into the large kitchen. Mikel and Andre had redone it for her too.
“This doesn’t even look like the same house old Mrs. Jenson lived in,” he mused.
Jasmine tucked a strand of her black hair behind her ear and handed the baby in her arms over to him as she answered, “No, it doesn’t. Still a lot of work to do though. Just need the money to do it.”
“You’ll get there.” He tilted his head to smell his sleeping niece’s forehead before he kissed her. “Zoey is getting so big.”
“She certainly is. I can’t believe it’s been seven months since she was born.” Jasmine stretched her back.
“What are you making me for dinner?” he asked.
Jasmine stirred the pot. “Mom’s chicken noodle soup recipe.”
Bently nodded. There were so many memories clinging to even the simplest mention of their parents. Good and bad shadows lurking behind triggers of trauma past.
He cleared his throat. “You doing okay?”
She smiled. “I’m doing a lot better. I started to go to a group thing once a week. It’s really helping me deal with . . . everything.”
“You mean for single mothers?”
She shook her head, storm clouds dimming the light in her green eyes. “No, for survivors.”
“Oh. That’s good. If it’s helping you.” He shifted in his seat. Talking about the past was uncomfortable. He preferred to leave it where it belonged, and avoid the topic altogether. “You never told me who Zoey’s birth father is.”
She added a pinch of salt to the pot and stirred it again. “How are you doing?”
“One of these days, you’re going to have to tell me,” he pushed.
“Today isn’t that day,” she said firmly.
“I just want to make sure you and Zoey get the best in life. If I need to kick some deadbeat’s ass, I will,” he assured her.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing like that. Just drop it, Bent.”
“Fine,” he grunted, turning his attention back to the sleeping bundle in his arms. Zoey had her mother’s almond-shaped eyes, but his niece’s were a stunning gray blue.
“You never answered my question,” she said, ladling some of the soup into a bowl and setting it on the table.
“Which one?”
“How are you doing?” she repeated.
“I’m fine.”
“You ever think about talking to someone about Mom and your dad?” she asked, making a bowl for herself.
“Why would I? They’re gone. Nothing to discuss anymore.” The smell of the savory soup wafted over to him. His mouth watered and his belly grumbled.
“Just because it’s over, doesn’t mean the wounds aren’t still there. Until you deal with them, they’ll fester.” Jasmine took the seat across from him.
“You been watching Oprah?”
“The therapist in the group told us that. It made a lot of sense to me.” Jasmine scowled.
He put his hand on his sister’s. “Look, I’m really happy this is working for you. But talking about shit I can’t change doesn’t do me any good.” In fact, it made him angry. He’d failed his mother, his sister, and his brother. He couldn’t protect them when they’d needed him most.
“Thank you, Bently. I know I haven’t gotten the chance to ever really say it. But you’ve always been there for me. You’re the only one who never ever left. I appreciate everything you do for me, and now Zoey.”
His throat grew tight. He didn’t deserve this. He could spend his entire life in servitude of his sister and it would never make up for the time he’d failed her so horrifically.
Turning his attention back to Zoey, he said, “Who could say no to this cutie? She’s the only girl who will ever have Uncle Bently tied around her finger.”
Zoey’s pink rosebud lips moved as if she was suckling in her sleep. Her little eyebrows frowned and then relaxed. Peace and calm swallowed him up as he held his niece. All was right in the world, at least for the moment.
Chapter 10
Belle
The windshield wipers were on as fast as they could go and it was still hard to see the road in front of Belle. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed.
She parked at the library. TJ was under the eaves with another boy around his age. They seemed to be in deep conversation. TJ hung his head low as he fidgeted with his backpack strap—something he did when he was nervous.
She honked the horn twice and both boys’ heads jerked towards her. TJ’s friend smiled and waved. Something about him felt off.
“This is some storm,” TJ said sliding into the passenger seat.
“That your friend from school?”
TJ swallowed and looked out the window. “He’s in my science class.”
“What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Chinese?” he suggested.
“But it’s your night to cook,” she pointed out.
“Please?” He smiled and flashed his puppy-dog eyes at her.
She chuckled. “Alright.”
After a few moments of silence, TJ asked, “You ever goin’ to date?”
A triangle formed between her brows. “What kind of question is that?”
“Well, I’m gonna be going to college and then medical school, and you’ll be here all alone. Wouldn’t you like some company? You know, someone to watch your back?” TJ asked, almost too innocently, but there was a tinge of fear in his voice.
She shook her head. “I appreciate your sudden interest in my love life, but I’ll be fine on my own.”
“The sheriff seemed like a nice guy.”
Belle turned her head and glanced suspiciously at her brother. “You met him once. And he’s a cop.”
“I know. Just seemed like maybe he was into you.”
“More like he wants to be into me.” She laughed.
TJ grimaced. “TMI, sis.” He shook his head. “I don’t know, just appeared you two had some . . . chemistry.”
More like the whole damn lab exploded. “You got all that from a few minutes of me finding you outside the house getting out of a police car? Me yelling at you to get your ass inside. You scared the shit out of me, TJ. And besides, that was two months ago.” Her voice rose.
“He
