“No.”
“Why?”
“Your turn. Are you and Jake havingproblems?”
“Not problems, necessarily.” Casey sighed heavily. I could clearly see the weight bogging her down. How had I not detected it earlier? “I’m just worried about him. I’m going to tell you something, but it’s just between the two ofus,okay?”
I nodded,leaningin.
“He stopped seeing the therapist awhileback.”
The information surprised me. Jake had seemed so positive about the sessions. Why would he stop going just when he was seeingresults?
“Your turn,” Casey said, a smile forming onherface.
I smiled back. It was as if we’d come to an understanding. We were on a level playing field, both carrying secrets the other wantedtoknow.
“I don’t want to get married and have kids because I already basically raised two, and I have no needformore.”
It was a lie, but she didn’t need to knoweverything.
Casey seemed to consider what I said, and then nodded like she didn’t quitebelieveme.
“Jake told me you had a lot of responsibility. He feels bad that you had to pick up the slack becauseofhim.”
“He said that?” I whispered, heaviness tugging at my heart. I always hated when he blamed himself for the things he’d had no control over. “It wasn’t hisfault.”
“Well, Jake carries a lot ofregrets.”
“Why did he stop seeing the therapist?” Iasked.
“All he said was that he didn’t feel comfortable going anymore. It was weird because it happened so suddenly. One minute he was totally positive about the progress he was making, and the next, he refused togoback.”
“When did thishappen?”
“A couple ofweeksago.”
Dammit. Now I was worried. When Jake retreated too deeply into his own mind, things got hairy. Did Casey understand this? Could she handle the fallout? Perhaps sensing my concern, she reached over the table to cupmyhand.
“It’s true. I have been asking Jake questions about you, and, yes, I did ask him to broker this meeting, but it’s not because he and I are ganging up on you. I genuinely want to get to know you better. I’ve never had a sister, and I really want to have that close relationship with you… but I alsoneedyou.”
“Why?”
“Because you know Jake… maybe better thananyone.”
I scoffed. “No, I’m thinkingyoudo.”
Casey slowly lifted her head, leveling her serious eyes to challenge mine. “WhoisGlen?”
It was a gut punch of a question that took my breath away. I had to think. What had Jake told her? What could I say about Glen? Nothing,that’swhat.
“How do you knowaboutGlen?”
My quivering voice was enough for Casey to drop her own to a nearwhisper.
“He has notebooks filled with songs in the music room. They’re just lying in an unlocked drawer. If they were private, why would he have them in such an open place,right?”
“They’re in a drawer.I’d hardly callthatopen.”
