Chapter 5: Janice Rhodes?

It was 10:30, and everyone was in bed except Leah and Andrew.

“Andrew, do you think Nia will be OK in there with Val? She’s a good kid. She’s been, what’s the word, resilient. Val, on the other hand, she’s kind of a terror. And now...”

“I’m going to talk to her. I am feeling awfully unqualified, though. I’m not Dad. Or Mom. If they were here...”

He trailed off, considering the huge new hole in their lives. Leah turned to face him, concerned.

“You were great today, really. How does Nia feel?”

“She seems a lot more positive. I’m not expecting any of us to be happy right now, but Nia is getting on pretty well, I guess.”

“And how does she feel about you, Drew?”

“Oh, she loves her big brother. Always has.”

“More now, because you stepped up. Listen! You’re a good man, you have a good heart. Nia knows this. Val knows this, too, when she calms down and gets control of herself.

“And, I know this. I know this. You’re going to get us through it all. I trust you. And, I love you.”

She leaned over and kissed him. It wasn’t a big romantic kiss, but it was more than a quick “just between siblings” peck.

With a note of surprise in his voice, he said, “That was good, Leah. ‘Kissing your sister’ is more fun than people say. You know I love you too.”

He smiled warmly, and she was surprised again by how she felt. All she could do was smile back at him, feeling flushed and flustered.

“I’ll be back.”

Leah fled to the en suite bathroom. He looked up at the ceiling, then down at the floor. His thoughts were all muddled.

“We are all going nuts. Every one of us. Val’s worse than usual. Leah thinks I’m going to be, what, a father? Husband? What’s her name, Ms. Kumar? She’s boxed me in. I’m not ready! I’m only 17, I’m not done with high school. I’ve never had a girlfriend, except for Janice in the sixth grade, and she dumped me! For that asshole, Lance Nixon.”

His sister returned, she’d washed her face and hands. She noted Andrew’s preoccupied look.

“What’s going on? What’s on your mind?”

“Lance Nixon.”

“Lance Nixon? That asshole? He moved away years ago. Good riddance. Why him?”

“Janice Rhodes dumped me to hang out with him.”

“Drew, you’re worrying me. It’s been a rough day, a rough month, but Janice Rhodes? Why?”

“I should have kept my mouth shut. I’m sorry, Leah. It’s been a long day; I’m going out on the sofa. Good night.”

Leah’s mouth hung open as she watched him leave the bedroom.

“What the hell? Did I say something? Oh, no!”

She followed him out to the living room.