I furrowed my brow at her question.
Why wasn’t she asking about the kids?”
“They’re going,” I said. “Hotels are being built and parties are being thrown.”
“I haven’t seen you in the news much recently. They gave me television privileges back a week ago.”
“I’ve been a little busy taking care of your kids, Valentina.”
The silence on her end of the line was frustrating.
“Do you want to know how they’re doing?” I asked.
“Of course I do,” she said. “I’m not a monster.”
“Then why haven’t you asked?”
“I figured you would just tell me. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is they’re your kids. I would’ve assumed they would be the first thing you asked about. Not my damn company.”
“So I’m not asking the right questions in the right order for you, Ryan?”
“No. But you don’t seem very concerned about how your own children are,” I said.
“Why? Because I haven’t gotten around to asking about them yet?”
“Yes!”
My gut was clenched with anger as my sister fell silent again. Was she being serious? I stood to my feet and sat on the edge of my desk, waiting for her to ask. Waiting for her to ask me how Zoey was doing in school or how Benjamin was feeling or how Hunter was doing with his mathematics. Anything to show me she was the slightest bit concerned for the well-being of her children.
But there was nothing.
And it made me sick.
“My doctor’s signaling for me to get off the phone,” she said.
“Well, just to let you know, they’re doing fine,” I said.
“I know they are. They’re with you.”
I snickered and shook my head as I bit down onto my tongue.
“Take care of them, okay?” she asked.
“That’s what I’m fucking doing, Valentina.”
Then the call went dead and I slammed my phone down onto my desk.
Did she not care? Was she that empty-headed from the detox? I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I knew one thing. I was going to protect those kids, even if I had to protect them from her. They were flourishing with me. Blossoming into beautiful, wonderful little people. Zoey was happy, and Benjamin was full of life. Hunter’s grades were finally coming up in class and he had gone from failing his times tables to acing them.
And if my sister didn’t give a shit about that, then I knew someone who would.
I would.
I would care. I would protect them. I would take care of them. No matter the cost.
I stood up and shoved my hands into my pockets as I gazed out the windows behind my seat. Emma coming over for dinner would help smooth things over. The kids would be excited to see her and watching her smile would erase the terrible conversation with my sister from my memory for good.