"Chris," Ethan warned when we were near his parents' house with Wally pulling a moving van behind us. "What did you do?" There was a small bit of tension in his voice, and I could tell that he was nervous about what I was planning.

"I am giving your mother the option to move out of this hellhole and start another life," I replied. I tossed Ethan my phone, knowing full well that he would want to see what I had done. "Remember the apartment that my grandmother and I "rented" out?"

"Yes..? Why?" Ethan asked. He unlocked my phone and went to the first text message that was up. He started to scroll through the messages and looked at me, his face rather pale, but his eyes filled with excitement. "You didn't," he said, his voice rather breathless.

I nodded my head, keeping my eyes on the road. "She's going to be living in the apartment building rent-free for a year. All she'll have to worry about is the electricity and water bills every month. And, she has a new "full-time" job if she wants it. There is a daycare part, and it doesn't cost anything from her to use it."

"Wait, what is this full-time job?" Ethan asked. "And where?"

"I needed a new co-manager for one of my buildings in town," I replied, shrugging my shoulder. "If she wants, then she can have that job. If not, then I'll help her find something. No one has to move to a different school district."

"Why are you doing this?" Ethan asked after a moment of silence. "You know that she doesn't want handouts."

"Well, it's a good thing that it isn't a handout," I said. I pulled into his parents' driveway, noticing that the car that belonged to his father was not sitting in the driveway. "It's a... business opportunity."

"A business opportunity?" Ethan said, and I nodded. "You're kidding, right?"

"I do not kid, Ethan Louis," I warned, glancing at him as I set the van into park and turned it off. "I want her out of this house and away from him. He is going to kill her or kill one of you all."

"He's going to come after us," Ethan said. "You have no idea ho-"

"I do, too," I said, interrupting him. "My parents are emotionally and mentally abusive, and you of all people know that. I think it might be easier for me to live there because I do not have to deal with them, at least for as long as they stay away from the house."

Ethan set his jaw. I could tell that he wanted to be excited, but he was more nervous than not. He had no idea if his mother would actually do this, give them a better life that they deserved, and I prayed that she would. "She might not do it," he said finally.

I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out before nodding my head. "I know," I said. "And I am hoping that she will. All she is worried about is the money and how she is going to survive looking after six kids by herself."

"And, how is she going to take care of the kids?" Ethan asked. "She has nothing."

"She has you, and you are the oldest. If need be, I will come over and watch them myself free of charge."

"You're joking, right?"

I shook my head. "I watch Trey' s kid for free when his grandmother doesn't want to take her to the building, and Trey is busy with work or football."

Ethan sighed and moved a hand across his face. He looked rather defeated, as if he didn't want me to do this but knowing that I wouldn't listen to him or his mother. "We aren't getting out of this, are we?" he asked, sounding tired.

I shook my head, no. "And, there is no backing out of this now. Come on, let's go get your mom and tell her the news." I hesitated and licked my lips, my hands on the steering wheel. "You're all the family that I got, Ethan," I said. "Not including my grandmother, but she isn't here as often as your mother has been. This is how I can repay her and show her how thankful I am of her for raising me when my parents wouldn't. Please, don't take this opportunity away from me."

Ethan smiled and placed his hand in mine. "I won't," he promised, squeezing my hand reassuringly. "I won't take this away from you."

Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head. "Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you for not doing that. I really do appreciate it."

He shrugged and smirked. "Besides," he said, teasingly, and I rolled my eyes. "It's what families are for, to help each other, and serve those that need it."

I raised an eyebrow and stayed silent. I had a feeling that there was something else he wanted to say, but I had no idea what.

"And you are the best sister that any man could have."

I rolled my eyes. "And, I suppose that you are the best brother that a female could have," I said, finally.

"Bitch."

"Thanks, I try."