Page 96 of Structure of Love

Cooper opened the file and then froze with realization. “Oh my god. You designed a forever home with him!”

“I did.”

“You’re so gone on this dude.”

“Guilty.” I grinned, pleased with his response. He was so obviously delighted by the house and what it all signified, I wished I could take a picture. Well, I could, if I was willing to smear sticky stuff on my phone’s screen, which I was not. “But don’t even breathe a word of this to him. I want it to be a complete surprise.”

“I won’t ruin it, promise.” Cooper sipped water and started studying it. “I don’t know if I completely understand what I’m seeing?”

“Oh, I can walk you through—”

From the front door I heard the locksmith call, “Gage!”

“One sec.”

I quickly washed my hands, headed to the door, and wrapped up things with him, including a hearty thank-you. I felt better with doors my mother couldn’t open. Not without breaking in somehow, at least. He left, and I moved back to the table, stood at Cooper’s elbow, and walked him through the blueprints.

“This house will be so damn cool once it’s built.” Cooper drained the last of his water with a sigh. “I should probably drinkmore. But seriously, love the house. He’ll love it, I think. I mean, how can you not?”

“That’s my hope, but of course if he wants something additional, I’m happy make some redline changes. I designed based on what I know of him now.”

“So when are you proposing?”

“We haven’t talked timeline yet. I’ll let you know when we do. In the meantime, maybe—”

We suddenly heard pounding on the door and someone ringing the doorbell repeatedly. I knew without looking at the new Ring camera who it was and sighed wearily. “That’s Mom. She’s swung by like this before.”

Cooper’s head turned toward the door, but he didn’t get up. “She’s probably worked herself into a frenzy, thinking I’m going to die overnight or some shit.”

“Ignore her.” Easy to say but harder to do in practice. I didn’t want to engage with her. I was still low contact, and it needed to stay that way for a while. For all our sakes. Still, it was very hard to ignore the pounding. “If she’s not gone in five minutes, I’ll call Zar.”

“Yeah, good call.”

I went back to lunch prep, got the chicken in the air fryer, and started chopping romaine lettuce. She finally stopped, although I could hear a muffled scream—of frustration, maybe? Big emotions of some sort—then silence.

Cooper got up to carefully check through the window. “Phew, she’s gone. I guess she realized we weren’t going to answer.”

I felt my shoulders drop from around my ears. “Good. Maybe we got our point across. Lunch will be ready in about fifteen minutes, Coop.”

“But you’re still cooking?”

“Meal prep. Figured I’d make several things so you’ve got leftovers to choose from.”

He came up behind me and gave me a one-armed hug. “Thanks.”

Cooper was seriously so much better now that he’d adjusted his thinking. I still prayed his change in attitude stuck. It’d break my heart completely if he reverted.

A phone sang a ditty—not mine—and Cooper fished his out before awkwardly swiping with one hand. “Hello? Oh, hi! Yeah, Logan referred me to you.”

Ah, this must be the therapist calling him back. I didn’t think he could start tomorrow, but hopefully soon. After we ate lunch and I put the enchiladas in the oven, I’d sit down and research rehab clinics with him. I wanted one picked out for a tour so we could get that ball rolling, too. He was finally out of withdrawal stage (thank god), he needed some clinical help soon. I wanted him to stay sober.

But sitting here, listening to my brother schedule his first therapy appointment with a smile on his face, was something I’d never thought I’d see happen. I was so grateful to be proven wrong.

Maybe, just maybe, I had my brother back.

31

Logan