Page 9 of Yours To Hold
I could also use the distraction from Ivy.
“Gramps. Hey.”
“Hey Mason. Everything is okay, but Willow says her throat hurts,” Gramps tells me.
Damn it. This has been happening more and more. After our last visit to the doctor this past winter, he said if they don’t get better, she’d have to get her tonsils taken out this summer.
“Can you give—”
“Already given her something to help. She’s eating a popsicle now with Daisy.”
I blow out a breath. “Thanks, Gramps. I owe you.”
“No, you don’t. It’s what family does.”
“I hate that I’m not there for her.” As I’m convincing my brother to make my life even crazier by taking on this new venture.
“She’s fine. I’m going to put on a movie for her, and she can fall asleep to it if she wants.”
“Tell her I’ll be there to pick her up soon.” Even though the bar is starting to fill up, I can call someone in to help. One of the perks of managing the front of house staff.
“Don’t rush.” Gramps chuckles before hanging up on me.
“Everything okay?” Ivy asks, sipping on her drink. The look on her face tells me she heard every minute of that conversation.
“Willow isn’t feeling too good.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Add like six more pairs of hands and eighteen more hours to the day and I’m set.”
“Well, I can’t do that, but Gemma mentioned you might need some help with Willow.”
“She did?” Damn it. I told her I had it covered. No one in my family can keep their mouth shut.
Willow’s mom is in the army and is stationed overseas. She loves it, and I can’t fault her for her dedication to her country.
We were friends in high school, and after dating for a few months one summer and calling it quits, she ended up pregnant. We decided we were better as friends, and we share custody of Willow but agreed when she got this overseas assignment that it would be best for Willow to stay with me. And while our situation usually works, I’m spread thinner and thinner these days.
“I’m not really doing much before I leave, so if you need help…”
“I don’t.”
Ivy rolls her eyes. “So you’re not burning the candle at both ends?”
“He is,” Nash pipes up as he grabs a bottle of vodka behind me.
“Fucker,” I mumble under my breath.
“I’m actually pretty good with kids if you want me to help out with Willow.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking me to.” Ivy sets down her now empty drink.
“You want another?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’m off to go take some pictures. Gemma said you were being stubborn, so I figured I’d stop by and chat.”
