No, that wasn’t true. Her heart might feel like a herd of bison had trampled all over it, but she had made some gains. She had her family back, with John as a bonus. Plus, she figured she would now be able to successfully resist any texts from Nicholas. Partially because she’d blocked his number, but mostly because she was utterly conscious of the fact that her heart would simply crumble into a million pieces if she got back into bed with him anytime soon.
Whatever silly, romantic, lingering hope she’d had for them had been killed.
Yay, progress.
“I’m glad I stayed,” she replied, and she believed every word. That darkness would never go away, but it was easier to beat darkness back when you had a secure base to fight from, when you had people willing to hold your purse while you lit the torch. “You said I couldn’t pick and choose which parts of my past I resolved, and you’re right. I think there’s value in confronting stuff even if you end up acknowledging some parts can never be fixed.”
Jackson was silent.
Livvy sipped her beer. “How was New York?”
“Fine.”
“Why were you there?”
Nothing.
“Is it illegal, Jackson? Whatever you do?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched his head swing around, his scowl fierce. “Why would you ask that?”
“You’re the one who told me about your prison stint in Paris.”
His brown skin darkened with a flush. “That was an anomaly. And it was for a good reason.”
“What was the reason?”
He mumbled something.
“What?”
“I was protesting, okay? It was bad luck I happened to be one of the ones caught.”
“Protesting?” Her heart lifted. Okay. That wasn’t awful. “Was it for a good cause?”
“Always,” he murmured.
“Is that what you were doing in New York?” she persisted.
His sigh was weary. “No. I was working in New York. And yes, it’s legal.”
Aware of the we-are-done-talking-about-this tone in her twin’s voice and what it meant, she subsided. “Okay.”
They sat in silence and drank their beers for a while. Finally, he cleared his throat. “How’s Mom?”
The question was torn out of him. “She’s okay. Getting much better. She started using a cane.”
Jackson grunted.
Livvy crossed her legs. She hadn’t wanted to project her desire for family on him but screw it. “I know she’s difficult, and I don’t know everything that happened between the two of you, but it might be good for you to try to talk to her. Just once? Go see her.”
Jackson ignored every word she said. “How’s Aunt Maile?”
“As good as she was the last time you asked.” She shifted. “And before you ask, Sadia’s fine too.”
Jackson nodded.
“You could seeher, at least?”
