Free Janet by E. L. Todd Page A

years. The bags under his eyes gave away his depression. He wasn’t the vibrant and upbeat guy I remembered. He looked ruined. “Hello, Janet.”
    “Hey.”
    He hugged me and patted me on the back. “It’s lovely to see you.”
    “You too.”
    “Please come in.”
    “Thank you.”
    Hank led me to the living room. “You remember my sister Tanya?”
    I smiled at her. “Of course.”
    She barely acknowledged me. Her scowl was noticeable.
    Hank took me aside. “I apologize for her behavior. She just…doesn’t like your sister.”
    “So she doesn’t like me?”
    “I’ll talk to her.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Nothing will stop me from seeing my nephew.”
    “I expected nothing less.”
    Joey was sitting on the ground, playing with his Legos. He was two years old, but he was an adorable toddler. He had dark hair like his father and beautiful green eyes like my sister. I sat i n front of him and smiled.
    “Hey, monster.”
    He giggled and pointed. “Auntie!”
    I hugged him and kissed him on the forehead. “You’re so big.”
    “I’m almost three!” He held up three fingers.
    “Wow. Are you having a birthday party?”
    He nodded his head vigorously.
    “What do you want for your birthday?”
    He held up his Legos. “More.”
    “More?”
    Joey nodded again.
    He was so cute I felt tears in my eyes. I pulled him to lap and examined the back of his head. There was faint scar. I sighed miserably. Joey played with his toys while Tanya stared at both of us, watching my every move.
    Hank moved to the floor beside me. “How’s she doing?”
    “Not good.”
    He nodded.
    “She’s enrolling in a program. She wants to get better.”
    “She finally told you?”
    I nodded. “She hopes if she puts herself back together, she can have her son back.”
    “I don’t think so,” Tanya snapped.
    Hank looked at her. “Tanya, please don’t.”
    “No,” she said. “This is my nephew. I’m not letting her near him.” She started to raise her voice.
    Hank held up his hand. “Please give me a moment with Janet.”
    She sighed then stormed into her bedroom.
    Hank looked back at me. “She means well.”
    “I understand, Hank. She just wants the best for Joey. I can’t blame her for being protective.”
    Hank nodded then watched his son.
    “Do you think you’d give her another chance if she changed?”
    “I—I don’t know. She would have to be really convincing. I don’t want Joey to be distant from his mother, but as his father, I can’t let him be in danger again. I refuse to let that happen.”
    I stroked Joey’s hair. “I completely understand.”
    “I’m glad you’re more logical than your sister.”
    “But I haven’t experienced what she has.”
    Hank averted his gaze and sighed.
    “Would you give your marriage another chance?”
    He sighed. “No.”
    I felt my heart clench painfully. “Even if she changed?”
    “I—I don’t know. I’d have to see the change before I considered it. I love Beatriz. A part of me always will. But everything has been different these past months. She’s done things she can’t ever take back. Hurting our son is one of them.”
    “You know it wasn’t intentional.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” he snapped. “A child is her priority, not her drinking. If she were responsible this wouldn’t have happened.”
    “I’m not defending her actions,” I said quickly. “I just want to make sure you understand she regrets it.”
    “Regret won’t change our future.”
    I kissed Joey on the head and watched him play with his toys. “Are you seeing anyone?”
    “I’m a total wreck, Janet. Of course I’m not seeing anyone. I’m not even divorced yet.”
    “Could you hold off on the papers? Just give her some time.”
    “I know this is hard to hear because she’s your sister,” Hank said. “But now that we’re apart, I see all her flaws. She’s selfish, rude, difficult, and a perpetual liar. She constantly puts down others to make herself