I’m a little disgusted with myself. At my age, you would think I would be able to do something as simple as fixing a sink. I never had to.Why?Because I relied on men to help me. I should have learned to do stuff for myself from the beginning.
“Hey, Miss Hazel. You’re looking beautiful today.”
“Stop trying to sweettalk me, Reed Lane. Callie, tell me why you put up with this boy?” Mom jokes.
Callie lets out a giggle that is filled with joy, but then, that’s Callie these days. I’m happy for her. She deserves it. God knows she’s gone through hell. She’s loved Reed since high school, butit took years of pain and horrors no one should live through for them to get together. I peek around the corner of the cabinet and smile as I see them. They’re standing together as they talk, Reed with his arm possessively around Callie’s waist. I shouldn’t, but I know a moment of jealousy. Reed has been in love with Callie since we were little more than kids. Despite them living years apart, he’s still devoted to her.What’s wrong with me that no man can care for me like that?
I shake off the thought. I will not feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time for that. I have a sink to fix.
“Katie? What are you doing?”
“The sink is leaking again,” I answer Callie, giving her a smile that I don’t feel but wish I did.
“I can fix that for you,” Reed volunteers, and I’d be lying if I didn’t want to let him. I do. That’s not going to help me, though. I’ve depended on a man for way too long.
“I need to learn to do it,” I insist stubbornly. Reed gets down on his knees and frowns at me. “I’m serious. I want to learn how to do stuff on my own.”
“Can’t you call a plumber? There’s Gary’s or Wiz’s right here in town—”
“Gary’s is booked solid, and Wiz offered to come by—”
“That’s great. Then—”
“And for the price of a date, he’ll come by anytime night or day to fix my plumbing—especially night.”
“Oh my,” Callie says, covering her mouth to try and hide the way she’s dying to giggle.
Reed doesn’t seem to think it’s funny, though. He looks pissed. “He seriously said that shit to you?”
“Said what shit? What’s going on?” I look around the counter to find Jake standing at the open door with Lennon—proving he still has terrific timing even after all these years.
“Don’t say that word in front of Lennon,” I gripe and blush for some unknown reason. “Hey, little man, you’re home early,” I add, forcing my voice to be happy and cheerful when mostly I want to scream at everyone to leave.
“Mommy! We came to see if you wanted to eat with us!”
“You did? That’s so sweet, but I can’t. Me and Mom—”
“You should go. I’ll be fine alone,” Mom interjects.
“You’re not alone. Callie and I are here, and while you’re gone, I can fix your sink.”
“I told you,Iwant to learn how to fix the sink.”
“I want to know what you were talking about when we came in,” Jake says, showing he’s stubborn as ever.
“It’s nothing,” I say with a wave, dismissing it.
“It didn’t sound like nothing,” Jake insists.
“Katie was telling us that Wiz offered to help her with any of her plumbing needs day or night—especially night—as long as she agreed to go out with him.”
“You’re so helpful, Reed.”
“I try,” he laughs, not one bit sorry.
“Have you been talking to him a lot?” Jake asks and I blink. For some reason, that simple question feels like a slap in the face.
“My Katie would rather chew nails and spit out staples.”