She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t ask permission. She walked straight to me like gravity pulled her there and took my face in her hands like Bubba had, but where Bubba’s touch was fierce, Rachel’s was soft.
“Oh, Frankie,” she whispered, and her voice cracked, then she hugged me.
All at once, the need to pretend just fell away. I sagged into her and let the tears come, quiet and hot and humiliating.
“It’s okay,” Rachel murmured into my hair. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’m here.”
I nodded against her shoulder, chest hitching.
Somewhere behind us, Bubba and Jake had gone very still, like they were standing guard again.
Rachel pulled back and looked at my face, her eyes bright with anger now. “Where is she?” she demanded.
“My mom?” I croaked.
“Yes,” Rachel said, jaw clenched. “Where is she. Because I’m going to?—”
“Downstairs,” Jake said flatly. “With Edward.”
Rachel’s expression sharpened. “Edward?”
I flinched. “Mr. Standish,” I corrected automatically, then swallowed. “He said… I can call him Eddie or Edward now.”
Rachel stared at me like she didn’t understand the language I was speaking.
“Oh, that’s cute.” Bubba’s mouth curled in something vicious.
Jake muttered, “It’s insane.”
My stomach twisted again.
Rachel looked at me, eyes softening. “Do you want to talk to her?” she asked.
The question landed like a stone.
Did I?
I pictured my mother’s smile. The ring. The way she’d tried to hug me like she hadn’t just stolen my life out from under me. The way she’d saidyou know how Frankie gets when things are stressful.
Like I was a problem to manage.
My hands clenched.
“No,” I said, and my voice surprised me with how steady it sounded. “Not right now.”
“Okay. Then you don’t.” Rachel nodded immediately, looping her arm through mine as we faced the boys.
Bubba looked like he wanted to argue with the universe, but he kept his eyes on me. “What do you need?” he asked, softer now.
I stared at the trays of food then at Tabby sprawled on the couch like we’d always lived here. Tory lay wrapped around Bubba’s neck like a fur, her tail thrashing now and then. The soft white of her coat a perfect compliment to his golden skin and blond hair. Then Tiddles who was in the middle of cleaning his leg and gave me a dour look.
Right, he didn’t want anyone staring athimwhile he bathed. The thought almost made a nervous giggle escape. Instead of giving in to that mild bit of hysteria, I studied Jake’s rigid posture and the way Bubba’s hands clenched. Next to me, Rachelwas just as still, just as fierce, like she held everything about herself in check.
Somewhere out in the house, Archie was waging war and defense on my behalf. It was why he hadn’t come back yet. Well, that and letting Rachel in. Even Mathieu was asking me what I needed and ready to jump in. The fact was, what I needed wasn’t a thing at all.
It was time.
“I need to sleep,” I whispered, voice breaking again. “I just… I need everything to stop.”
