Disbelief raked over me. “How did you even find out about Mom?”
“News travels,” Everest said.
I had no more ties in Boulder, which had me wondering if Mom’s death certificate was on the internet for all to see.
“Your school principal called,” Jeb said. “You neither attended your graduation, nor picked up your diploma. He was trying to reach your mom, but her phone was disconnected. Since I was listed as next of kin, he phoned me.”
Anger and shock warped my sight. Anger that Mom had listed my uncle on my school file, and shock that it was my own error that had led these people to me.
“How long have you been living like”-Lucy wrinkled her nose-“this?”
Where I lived wasn’t a palace. I was aware of that, but having her state it with such distaste raised my hackles. Her gaze roved over our faded couch, over the chipped white veneer of the countertop, over the yellow water stain that had bloated and cracked a piece of the ceiling.
“Move your arm, young man.” The familiar voice had me wheeling around. Evelyn held out a can of pepper spray to Everest’s face.
“Whoa, chill out, lady.” My cousin lowered the palm he’d planted on the wall to corral me.
Keeping the can directed on Everest, she said, “Get behind me, Ness.”
When I didn’t, she stretched out her arm and tried to force me back. Worried about my uncle’s reaction, I pressed her arm down and whispered, “It’s okay,” even though it wasn’t.
A frown worked itself onto my aunt’s smooth, milky skin. “Who’s she?”
Evelyn glared at her. “Who are you?”
“People I used to know,” I muttered.
“We’re her family,” Jeb said.
Evelyn cocked a penciled eyebrow up.
“They’re the reason Mom and I had to leave Boulder.”
“And you are, Ma’am?” my uncle asked.
“Evelyn.”
Lucy crossed her thick freckled arms, and a column of metal bangles clinked against each another. “And you know Ness how?”
“She’s been playing the role you guys failed so miserably at,” I said through gritted teeth. “If anyone should be my legal guardian, it should be her, not you.”
Evelyn glanced over her shoulder at me, then back at my uncle. “I will gladly be her legal guardian. Entrust her to me.”
My heart bounded at the possibility.
“I’m not entrusting Ness to a person I don’t know from Eve or Adam.” Jeb shook his head.
“Why not?” I asked. “Iknow her.”
Jeb slapped the kitchen countertop. “That’s not how it works. Now you start packing right away, young lady, or-or-”
I could tell from the strain around my uncle’s eyes that I was chipping away at his patience, but he had to understand I wasn’t the submissive pup he could kick around anymore.
I raised my chin. “Or what?”
“Or Everest will carry you out to the car,” Jeb said in a quiet roar.
“He wouldn’t dare.”
Everest shot me a brazen smile.
Crap. He woulddare.
“Evelyn’s been here for me when you guys haven’t! I am not leaving her.”
She wrapped her calloused fingers around my wrist. “Shh, querida.”
“Then I guess we’ll be taking her along,” Everest said.
I blinked at my cousin. “No one’s taking anyone-”
Jeb tipped his head toward Everest. My cousin slapped the can of pepper spray out of Evelyn’s fingers, then shackled the fists I swung at him, pinning them against my back.
“Take your hands off me!” I tried to tear my wrists out of his grasp, but the action was as futile as a hanging man trying to loosen a noose.
“Sorry, Cuz. No can do.”
“We are not the enemy, Ness,” my uncle said, stepping on the can of pepper spray Evelyn was reaching for.
“Well, you’re sure acting like it!” I bit out.
I tried to headbutt my cousin, but he must’ve predicted my move because he added space between our bodies, all the while keeping my wrists in a vice. “I don’t want to hurt you, Ness.”
“I will go with her.” Evelyn’s declaration made everyone freeze.
“What? No.” Lucy’s head jerked back, and it made her double chin wobble. She’d gained weight since I’d last seen her; not that she was ever a size eight, but she used to be firmer.
“You surely can’t just up and leave, Ma’am,” Jeb said.
“I surely can and surely will. Now release her before I call the police and have them observe how unfit you are to be her guardians.”
“We’re not afraid of cops,” Everest said, a lilt to his voice.
I was so furious I wanted to spit on him. On him and on his pride.
My uncle raised an open palm. “Release her, Everest.”
Everest let me go. I rubbed my wrists and glared at him, funneling everything I thought about him and his little stunt into that one look. I didn’t spit though.