“What?”
“Arne has soccer, so he and I are eating first.”
“I’m supposed to cook for everyone?”
Like I hadn’t been doing that since I was younger than her.“You guys can figure it out.”I took two plates, each with a burger, and put one in front of Arne at the table before sitting beside him with the other.
Cora glared at me then grabbed a couple of buns.“I’m only cooking my food.”
“Like hell you are,” Bruce said.“You can cook for us and Dorian will clean up.”
“I’ve got stuff to do,” Dorian whined while Cora started to mutter about sexism.
“Not very good planning,” Bruce said to me.
I thought it was genius planning, to have my siblings helping for once, but I just shrugged.
“When will the car be fixed?”he asked.
“I’m waiting to hear back from the garage.”They’d towed it away today.I was not looking forward to hearing how much the estimate was.
He grunted.He didn’t offer to help pay for it, even though both of his kids would use it.When Mom went to the doctor, someone had to drive her if I was at work.
I took a long breath.We’d get through this, somehow.I checked my phone for the time, since Arne and I would need to hustle to catch the bus to get to soccer.There was a message from Tonya.
We’ll be there to pick you up.
I hadn’t asked her, not wanting to be a burden.For a moment, tears threatened.A relative stranger had remembered that I might need help.Not anyone around the table, the people who were family.
I now had some extra time, so decided to start some laundry.I’d leave it to my siblings to handle the kitchen.It wouldn’t hurt them for once.
Once we were ready, Arne and I sat in the kitchen to wait for Tonya and Barney.Mom was the only one still there.Dorian’s efforts at cleanup were halfhearted at best, but I wasn’t worrying about it tonight.
“How was your day, Arne?”Mom asked.
Arne told her about drawing on the cast, and the book he’d read, and the sandwich he ate for lunch.
“It was on a bun like a sub sandwich, but it wasn’t from the sub shop!”
I’d never considered buying the long buns, but maybe I should.Except the vultures here would probably eat them first.I’d have to come up with other options for meals.My siblings and Bruce were capable of feeding themselves.I was tempted to vent to her again, but what was the point?With an internal sigh, I stood up.“We need to go, Arne.”
Tonya arrived on time and the boys greeted each other happily.
“Thanks,” I said as I did up my seat belt.
“No problem.Any word on the car?”
“I’m waiting for a quote.”
Tonya gave me a smirk as she pulled out into the street.“I didn’t think you’d have it fixed yet and was also sure you wouldn’t ask for a lift.”
“Guilty,” I said.
“Just warning you, I’m going to come by before every soccer game until I see you driving a vehicle again.”
I had to swallow.“Thank you.”
Tonya and I herded the boys to the field once we’d arrived at the park and settled in chairs.