Prologue
Henley
Age Twenty
Those Three Little Words
“I’m so proud of you!” Carol, my foster mom, runs up to my little sister, pulling her in for a hug as confetti rains down around us.
“Peace out, bitches!” Dilynne shouts as she tosses her graduation cap in the air.
My foster dad, Nick, and I share a laugh as Carol wipes a tear from her eye. “I’m so glad to be done with high school. Time to dominate the automotiveindustry!”
“Those men won’t know what hit ‘em.” Nick steps forward, hugging Dilynne tightly as she closes her eyes. “You make me proud, kiddo.”
“I love you both so much,” she whispers back, and unease twists my stomach. When my sister releases Nick, she barrels toward me. “I did it, Henley!”
“You did, Dil. But did you really think you wouldn’t?”
She leans back with her arms still around my neck. “I don’t know. It was touch and go for a while.”
“How so?”
“Math homework, big brother. That shit was the bane of my existence.”
I laugh and rub her head affectionately. “Yeah, I have to agree with you on that one.”
“Let’s take some pictures,” Carol says as my sister and I part, posing for the camera. Another parent offers to take a picture of the four of us, and for a moment, it almost feels like we’re a family.
But we’re not.
The only family I have is my sister. She’s the only person I’ve ever cared for so deeply that I would gladly sacrifice my life for hers. In fact, I’ve always put her needs before mine. But now that she’s graduated from high school, it’s finally time for my life to start.
I’m not sure what that looks like yet, but seeing her in this moment feels like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
After a celebratory dinner, Dilynne goes out to celebrate with her best friend, Laney, and a few other friends. I wasn’t aware she had other friends besides my buddy Rhonan’s little sister, but I’m not mad about it. She’s always been sort of a black cat, dancing to the beat of her own drum, reluctant to let people in, and never apologizing for who she is.
Honestly, I wish I could be like her in more ways than one.
“How are you feeling?” Nick asks me from the recliner on the other side of the living room. It’s late and he has the History channel on, as usual.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, your baby sister graduated today. You’ve got to be feeling something after all you’ve been through.”
Dilynne has told Carol and Nick about our childhood, but she doesn’t remember it the way I do. Sure, there were times when she’d cry because she was scared, and she always asked when our parents would return, but for the most part, I tried to shield her from the reality that we were basically on our own.
Making sure she was safe and fed was my only priority. Even after we ended up in foster care, things weren’t stable until we were placed with Carol and Nick Vance.
“I’m proud of her,” I say, not sure what he wants to hear.
“So am I. I swear, watching you two grow up these past few years has been the biggest blessing.”
“Still not sure I’ve grown up yet, Nick.”
He chuckles. “You’ll figure it out. Most of us do eventually. But just remember, you always have a place right here. The two of you have changed Carol’s and my life, and we will always care about you.”
“Thank you.”
