“Logan—”
“Because I knew you’d believe that before you’d believe I was clean, sober, and gainfully employed.”
He had a point.
“I don’t blame you for thinking the worst of me. I spent so much of my life being wasted, trying to figure out how to get wasted, or hustling for money to stop being wasted. But I know better now. Being clearheaded is amazing. I didn’t realize how much of a foggy, angry mess I was.”
“You drove all this way to tell me this?”
He nodded. “I wanted you to see I’m sincere this time. I’ve turned my life around for real. And I’m going to fight to keep on the straight and narrow for good.”
“I’m so happy for you,” she said. It was like a miracle. No, itwasa miracle.
Logan grinned. “I have you to thank. If you hadn’t cut me off, I probably wouldn’t have hit rock bottom. Not as fast as I did, anyway. It was either stay locked up, OD, or do something with my life. I got into a good rehab program and finished it this time. Graduated with flying colors, according to my counselor.”
Jade wanted to weep. While she’d held out a sliver of hope that her boundaries would help him, she had done it more for herself. “I didn’t want to,” she said. “I really wanted—” Her voice caught. Talking about the failed adoption at this point was useless. But maybe they could be the tiny family she’d always wanted, now that he was on the right track. She set her drink down and sat beside him, putting her arms around his shoulders. “I’m proud of you, little brother.”
He hugged her back. “Thanks, sis.”
They let go of each other, and Jade was ready to pepper him with questions about his new life when she noticed the apprehension in his eyes. It triggered her own nerves. “That’s not all you wanted to tell me, is it?”
“No.” He drew in a deep breath. “Your mother wants to talk to you.”
Jade froze. Even her heartbeat went almost completely still. She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Lydia?” she squeaked out.
“Wants to see you.”
“No.” She jumped up from the couch. “No, no, no—”
“Jade, just listen—”
“No!” She spun around. “How do you even know what shewants?” She gasped. “You’ve been talking to her? Why would you do that?”
Logan went to her. “We met in rehab. Ironic, isn’t it? Out of all the rehab places in Little Rock, Lydia and I would be at the same one at the same time. We got to talking after group one day and put the pieces together. She misses you, Jade. She knows she has a lot of making up to do, and she wants to start the process.”
“Don’t listen to her. She’s a liar, drug addict, an alcoholic—”
“Me too,” he said quietly. “I was and am all those things.”
“But you were just a kid.” Her voice quaked. “You had a rough life—”
“So did you.”
“Because of her!” She backed away. “Would you have contacted me if she hadn’t manipulated you into it?”
“She didn’t manipulate me. I offered.”
Jade noticed he didn’t answer the first part of her question.
“Lydia’s changed. You have to believe me.”
“No, I don’t.”
He stilled. “You’re right. You don’t have to. Go see her and find out for yourself. Then you’ll see she’s different.”
“She’s making you do her dirty work. If she wanted to reach out to me, she would have.”
“Would you have let her?”
