“How were the girls?”
“Penny’s going away for a while with Rowan.”
“That sounds nice.”
“I hope so,” Evie replied. She sipped her tea. “What are you planning on doing today?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I could help you make some phone calls, if you like.”
“That would be great—thanks. I’ve got a list somewhere.” She searched the kitchen and found the list by the toaster, then scanned it. “You could call the book distributors for me. I have their numbers on my phone.”
“Happy to help.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you’re here with me right now. I feel so overwhelmed by it all. I have no idea what I’m going to do with my life.”
Emily sighed. “I know what you mean.”
“What’s going on with you?” Evie asked. “You haven’t told me much, but I have to assume you’re dealing with some issues or you wouldn’t be here.”
Emily scowled. “My husband doesn’t love me.”
“What? Of course he does. He’s always loved you. He’s just not great at showing it sometimes.”
Emily’s face reddened. “Don’t tell me about my own husband. You think you know him better than I do, but you don’t. I’ve lived with the man for ten years. He’s helped me raise my boys. We’ve been a family for a long time.”
Evie swallowed a mouthful of tea. It scalded her throat. She coughed. “That’s ridiculous. I don’t think I know him better than you, but I do know him pretty well. He was my boyfriend before he was yours, after all.”
Emily’s nostrils flared. “How dare you bring that up again.”
“Why not? I think enough time has passed that we can finally discuss what happened. After all, it ruined my life.”
“Ruined your life? You want Gareth Johnson so badly, you’re welcome to him. I can’t stand him.” Emily strode to the kitchen, where she threw the rest of her tea into the sink.
Evie followed her, rage building slowly up her spine. “What do you mean, you can’t stand him? What’s going on, Emily?”
Emily pressed both hands to the edge of the sink. “It’s pointless. I’ve tried to win his love and affection for such a long time, but it’s still you. He’s always loved you. I know that now.”
“We were trying to get pregnant. We wanted to be married and spend our lives together. We lived in the same house for eight years, Emily. And you stole him from me with your flirting and your promises.” Evie choked out the words as a lump grew in her throat at the memory. She’d built her entire life around a man who gave her up for her sister. It’d derailed her, thrown her entirely off course. She’d never married, never had a family of her own. Emily had taken all of that from her. She’d finally recovered on Coral Island and now Emily was back, reopening old wounds.
Emily’s eyes sparked with anger. “I didn’t steal anything. He came to me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Why does any of this matter now?” Emily threw her hands in the air.
“Because you’re doing it again. You knew David was going to ask me out, and you stepped in between us. You’ve been seeing him for weeks, and once again, I’m out in the cold alone.”
“You didn’t seem to care. You didn’t say anything to me about it.”
Evie slumped back onto the couch. “Because it wouldn’t make a difference. We’ve been here before. You’re going to do whatever you want to do, and you don’t care how it makes me feel.”
“That’s unfair, Evie. You always ignore my feelings because yours are just so much more important. Mum and Dad do it too. Because I’m too emotional and dramatic, all three of you have ganged up on me my whole life. I’m miserable and alone, my own husband prefers my sister, my kids are ungrateful, and I’ve got no one.” Emily burst into tears, covering her face with both hands.
Evie’s resolve wavered. She didn’t have any fight left. Would Emily ever own up to the things she’d done or take responsibility for her own actions? “I’m sorry. I didn’t realise you felt that way. I suppose it does seem like we gang up on you sometimes.”
The truth was, she’d taken refuge in her parents’ support. Emily had always been so strong-willed that Evie often felt bulldozed by her sister. Her only defence had been to run to her parents for words of affirmation and encouragement. She hadn’t realised the impact that might have on Emily’s self-esteem and sense of family.
“Thanks for finally admitting it.” Emily sniffled.
