So I do the only thing I can think of.
I push my way past him and run.
Caleb
Ican counton one hand how many occasions I’ve been genuinely stunned. The first time was when I was twelve and my father said he had to stop off and pick up some mail at a small pink house across town, a part of South Lux I hadn’t even known existed until that day. He told me to stay put, but I was twelve and had to take a leak, so after twenty minutes I walked around back, exploring for a bush to piss in. That’s when I heard the grunting, looked through the window, and saw my old man nailing a woman against the wall with his thrusting body. I pissed all over that window. The ride home was sullen. He had cheated on mother and murdered my childhood all in one afternoon.
The other two occasions were solely at the hands of my brothers. Abel when he announced that after years of floundering he, too, was headed into law, and then Solomon when he asked me to lie for him—only it wasn’t Sol’s request that stunned me, it was my willingness to do it.
I watch as Kennedy bolts down the driveway, hugging the lake until she dives into the Corner Store. It’s safe to say that Kennedy has taken the prize. I am stunned as shit. Can’t even breathe.
The clouds are dove gray as a gentle dusting of snow drifts down to Loveless, but not even the bitter cold, the beauty of a new winter, can shake me from my stupor.
“That’s Kennedy.” Her sister steps out, tears streaming down her cheeks. “She’s just hurt. She’s not really a monster.” Her entire body sags as she stares off in her direction.
“Why would she do this?” Her mother lets out an agonizing cry.
“Why do you think?” Peter straightens, his voice aggressive as a slap. “You’ve fucked her up good, Bev—that’s why!”
Kamryn lets out a venomous growl “Would you two stop! Youbothfucked her up. Congratulations! It’s the only thing you’ve managed to accomplish together in twenty-five years.” She turns to her parents. “Stay here. I’ll bring her back.”
I don’t say a word, just walk alongside Kamryn as we trek over to the Corner Store. We hit the entrance, and she blocks my path.
“Listen, if you’re as pissed as I think you are, maybe you’d better hang tight for a while.” Kamryn turns toward the lake, her hand pressed against her neck as if she might strangle herself. “I don’t want her to be like this. And I’m sick of people driving her to the brink of insanity. My sister is a good person. Yes, she’s made some shitty judgment calls, lots of them, but, deep down, she’s a decent person. At least she used to be,” she whispers that last part.
“Maybe you should tell her that.” I swallow hard just trying to keep it together. “She’s missed you. I know it would mean a lot for her to hear it.” I glance inside and spot Kennedy near the back, her head down, her face glossy with tears, and my heart breaks. “Good luck keeping me away from her.”
The Corner Store is filled with bodies trying to escape the bitter cold. The first snowfall of the season has a way of bringing people out to ogle it only to realize it’s damn cold, and they’d rather sip something hot.
Neva’s eyes widen as we step inside, and she points down to the end of the café where Kennedy sits with Gavin and Demi.
“Why don’t you two head over? I’ll bring you something.”
Kamryn makes a beeline toward her sister, but I’m slow to follow. Instead, I step aside, partially hidden by a crowd of raucous teenagers mulling around the counter. I want this to be about Kennedy and Kamryn. I want to be last in line—have her all to myself. Every emotion under the sun is running through my gut, and I don’t know what to do with a single one of them. Either way this is going to hurt. After all, Kennedy didn’t say those words to my face. I happened to overhear them. I’m not sure she was ever going to say them. But then again, I’ve lied to her. Maybe this is the day we both come clean.
Kennedy rises and does a quick introduction of her sister.
“I didn’t know you had a sister.” Gavin looks stunned as he gives her hand a quick shake. It is a bit of a shock to see Kennedy in duplicate.
Kennedy lifts a shoulder. “Yeah, well, I’m private that way.”
“Plus, she was a tiny bit ticked at me,” Kamryn adds. “We haven’t really spoken in four years.”
“Are we still sisters?” she asks sheepishly.
“Do you think I’m a horrible person?”
“No—far from it. I think you’re hurt, and you need someone there for you, like a big sister. Can I still be that for you?”
Kennedy gives a dull smile, running her fingers through her sister’s hair.
“You look like a snow princess.” She bites down on her lip, still contemplating her answer. “Of course, I’d like you to be my big sister. You were never anything but.” She wipes down her sister’s tear-slicked face. “That never changed.” She pulls her in tight. “You’ll be my sister until we take our last breaths and then long after that.”
Kam lands a sweet kiss on the top of Kennedy’s head. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”
“I’ve missed you twice that.” She pulls her into another embrace. “And that’s no lie.”
My feet begin the slow trek over without my permission. It’s time. Kennedy and I have a lot we need to say to one another, and now that she’s made amends with her sister, there’s no time like the present.
