Under Pressure (Body Armor #1)(130)
Tonya started to protest, but he cut her off.
“He knows you love him, honey. That doesn’t mean he can’t lift a finger. Look at him. He’s healthy as a horse. Cutting grass won’t hurt him.”
Kevin straightened his shoulders. “I was going to make some fliers and hand them out on our street.”
Pride swelled inside her. “I think that’d be pretty awesome.” She braced herself and said, “I’ll need to walk with you when you do.”
Kevin went still, his gaze darting helplessly to Jesse. “When I do what?”
“Hand them out.”
Brows going high, he asked, “Why?”
“Because you’re only twelve, and while I know the people right next door to me, I don’t really know anyone else and—”
“I’ll be careful.”
“And so will I.”
Flummoxed, he again looked at Jesse.
Jesse shrugged. “When I was sixteen—sixteen, Kevin—I started working at the grocery story. I remember my mom came up every day to buy something, just to make sure I was okay.”
That only left Kevin more horrified.
“One night,” Jesse said, “I had to bring in carts from the parking lot. It was raining.”
Tonya grinned, just knowing where this story might be headed.
“Yeah,” Jesse said with a shake of his head. “She and my dad came with raincoats and insisted on helping.” He laughed. “Back then, it embarrassed me. Now, I just appreciate how much they cared.”
Like a bottle of cola that someone shook up, Kevin looked ready to explode. But he still had the lid screwed on tight.
Too tight, Tonya decided.
Keeping her tone soft, she told him, “You can get mad, you know.”
Showing just a hint of mad, he glared at her. “You want me to be mad?”
“No, of course not.”
Jesse took his shoulder again. “She’s just saying it’s okay if you are. I got mad at my mom and dad, but it didn’t change anything. They still loved me, and still insisted on doing what they thought was right.”
The pressure built. Kevin worked his jaw. “She’s not my mom.”
Tonya was about to address that—she had no idea how—when a knock sounded on the kitchen door. She twisted to look behind her and found Brick and Merrily standing there, both smiling hugely. Knowing it was dinnertime, they’d crossed the backyard rather than walk around to the front door.
“Are we interrupting?” Merrily asked through the screen.
“Nope.” Jesse stood to let them in. “We just finished dinner.”
“We did too,” Brick told him. “A celebratory dinner.”
“Yeah?” Jesse lifted Love to give the chair to Merrily. “What are we celebrating?”
Too excited to sit, Merrily clapped her hands together. “We bought a house.”
Tonya had been about to stand, but that had her dropping right back into her seat.
“I know, I know,” Merrily rushed to say. “You’re a Realtor. But it was for sale by owner and you’ve had your hands full, so we didn’t want to bother you.”
“We paid for a house inspection,” Brick explained. “All good. It can use some updating, but I’ve enjoyed helping you here, and we’ve already got some ideas, so—”
“Count me in,” Jesse told him.
“You’re moving?” Tonya felt Jesse rest his hands on her shoulders. “You’re really moving?”
Bubbling over, Merrily clapped again. “Yes, and I’m sorry because you know I love you, and I love it here, and you’ve been the best landlord ever. But I also love, love, love the house we found. It has more space and a fenced yard and it’s only five minutes from here so we can still visit often and—”
To shush her, Brick kissed her, making Jesse laugh.
Now that she’d subsided, Brick picked up the explanations. “We’re getting married one week after we close on the house. The honeymoon is on hold until Merrily has a break in her classes. It’s going to be crazy enough just getting everything moved over.”
Merrily smiled at Tonya. “Be happy for me.”
“I am!” She jumped up to draw Merrily in for a big hug. “So very, very happy for you.”
“You don’t mind that we’re moving out?”
“I’ll miss you, and no other tenant will ever be as wonderful as you, but all that aside, I’m thrilled to see you so happy!”
Jesse nudged Brick. “To hear them talk with all that landlord and tenant stuff, you wouldn’t know they were friends.”
“The best of friends,” Tonya corrected, and she hugged Merrily again.
Jesse put his arm around Kevin and drew him into the group. “Just let us know how we can help.”
“Thanks,” Brick said. “Because I’m counting on you to help haul boxes and furniture.”
“We’ll be there.”
Merrily smiled at Kevin. “Weeeelll... I was hoping Kevin might help out with the animals while we move and get set up. Not overnight or anything, but of course the front door will be open a lot and—”
“I’ll do it.”
Merrily mussed his hair. “Thank you, kiddo.”