BRENNA
Now
Three months ago, I’dassumed coming back to California would bring me a sense of relief.
But now as my flight taxied to the gate, my low-level anxiety turned to full-on dread. Since I’d opened my eyes this morning, a rock had sat in my stomach at the idea of leaving Nathan. Our holiday together—hell, these last three months together—had been the best of my adult life.
Middlebury was the first town I ever called home and meant it. My mom had moved us around, following guy after guy, and I never had time to settle into any place we lived. Not until a divorce netted her enough money to buy a house in a small town,next to a baseball-playing boy and his family. I still remembered seeing Nathan Sharpe tossing a ball high into the air and catching it, how when he spotted me in my window, he beckoned me outside.
The rest was history.
Despite the promises we’d made, I worried that getting on this plane had made our second chance history too.
I pulled out my phone to text Nathan.
Brenna
Just landed. I miss you and our home.
I deletedand our homeand clicked send. We’d already accepted an offer on Nathan’s childhood house, so it wouldn’t belong to us much longer.
The rideshare from the airport to my mother’s townhome took thirty minutes. Nathan didn’t respond to my message, or even read it. We weren’t in the same time zone, though, so I’d have to get used to it.
“Brenna!” The front door of the house swung open before I reached the porch. Molly sprinted toward me, then wrapped herself around my legs.
I prayed for a sibling for years, craving this feeling, this unconditional love. Something my mother had no idea how to offer.
Molly didn’t only need me. I neededher.
My mother appeared in the doorway, disdain lining her features as she watched our hug. “Look who finally tired of playing house and decided to come home to her family.”
She’d put effort into her appearance today, like she had in Middlebury, which was unusual after a breakup.
When I was younger, I’d wondered why my mother didn’t offer me the kind of love Nathan received from his parents. I thought it was because of me, my lack of anything in common with the woman who gave birth to me, my sensitivity which disappointed her.
Thanks to therapy, I now recognized the problematic interactions that made my skin crawl for what they were—abuse.
I bent down to Molly’s level, ignoring my mother. “Hey, Molls. How was your flight home?”
“It took forever,” she mumbled, throwing her arms around my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around her, wishing I could shield this wonderful girl from every hurt flung her way.
My mother sighed dramatically. “She cried the entire way to the airport. She takes after you more than me.”
Big fucking sigh of relief there. I’d never forgive myself if I let Kathy Quinn mold my sweet sister into a bitter bitch who thrived on making others feel small.
“How disappointing for you,” I muttered, rising to my feet. I walked Molly into the house, past Kathy, who didn’t step aside. “I brought you something.”
Molly bounced on her feet. “What is it? What is it?”
I slipped the Palmer City Wolves calendar from my carry-on bag. As soon as I laid eyes on it in an airport bookstore, I had to have it for Molly. She flopped onto the floor, flipping through the pages and naming each player, her voice filled with excitement.
Kathy closed the door behind us, leaned back, and crossed her arms. “So did you finally sell the house?”
“Yep.” I climbed the stairs, carrying my suitcase and carry-on.
Her feet clunked on the steps behind me. “Took you long enough. Probably weren’t tryingallthat hard, if what I stumbled on was any sign.”
I didn’t respond. She wanted to put me in my place, to remind me who reigned supreme in this house, especially after learningI didn’t need to live here. That I was doing it because she failed to take care of Molly.
