“Did you see a bear the entire week we were there?”
“No.”
“But you didn’t leave my side,” Lainey noted. “And I know you wanted to do the swim classes instead of the archery ones I took.”
“So? I could swim whenever.”
“Okay. Fine. What about LA?”
“I came back because of your accident. Samara understood.”
“I mean before that. You were ready to go years ago.”
“Mom got sick.”
“And then what?”
“Mom was still sick.”
“Dana, Mom is fine now.”
“She’s been in remission, yes, but–”
“You have to stop this,” Lainey told her. “I don’t care if you’re an actor, a caterer, work in Maisie’s bookshop, or do nothing at all, but whatever you want to do, you need to just finally do it. You can’t prevent car accidents. You can’t keepMom’s cancer or any illness away. You can’t keep Dad from hitting his thumb with a hammer when he’s doing his woodworking stuff. What are you going to do? Buy an RV and just park it wherever we are at all times?”
“No, I’m not…” Dana sighed. “I can’t help it, Lainey. I’ve always worried. I’ve been worried about all of you every day of my life, I think.”
“I know. But there’s worry, and then there’s this next-level thing you do. I know it’s partly because you’re scared of the things you want. It’s notjustabout us. But I have Paige now, Dana.” Lainey squeezed her hand. “I know you were there for her when this first happened, and I love you for that, but she’s here now, and she’s taking care of me just like I’ll take care of her forever. I love you. I’ll always need you to be my sister. But you’ve been carrying enough worry for this whole family for decades now. You don’t have to anymore. Mom and Dad have each other, and you and I will be there for them together. Paige will be as well now. And if you and Samara end up together, I suspect she’ll be there for them, too.”
“She’s not here,” she replied, letting go of her sister’s hand.
“You told her not to come, you dumbass.”
“I did at first, yeah. Then, I asked her, and she said she’d book something for after Christmas, but she’s still not here.”
“What did she tell you when you asked?”
“I texted her. She said something came up; some event she was contractually obligated to attend that she hadn’t been able to get out of.”
“And you don’t believe her?”
“She’s been… distant.”
“Maybe because you left her there when she wanted to come.”
“I think it’s more than that. I didn’t realize it until after I had done it.”
“What?” Lainey asked.
“We were talking about you – well, the accident – andPaige’s pictures. I didn’t think back then, and I sent them to her. A few of them, but still.”
“Okay. Why is–” Lainey stopped, and her still slightly-bruised face showed realization. “You didn’t…”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Her mom.”
“Yup. I was so absorbed in you that I didn’t think about her, and I’m sure it upset her. I need to apologize, but I–”
