“Oh my God.Isla…”
“I know.I can’t believe it.They said he’s probably had it for at least fifteen years.”
“How is it possible he had something like that and didn’t know it?”
“I have no idea, but it explains everything, including the estrangement from his parents.”
“Maybe he did know and didn’t want to deal with it.”
“Possibly.”
“How do you feel now that there’s an explanation for everything?”
“I’m numb.I can’t believe he’s going to die, or that all of this might’ve been preventable if only…”
“That’s so sad.Wow.What can I do for you?”
“I have no idea.”
“Are you okay to drive home?”
“I think so.”
“If you’re not, get an Uber.We’ll get your car tomorrow.”
“I can drive.”
“Okay.I’ll be here waiting for you to get home.”
“Thank you, Denny, for everything.Always.”
“I love you, kid.You’re stuck with me.”
She was crying so hard, she couldn’t speak.
“Islands… please take your time and be careful driving.”
“Uh-huh, I will.”
Isla waited until she was sure she could drive safely and stayed in the right lane all the way home, looking straight ahead and trying not to think about anything other than getting to her babies in one piece.
She was all they had now.
Even though that’d been true from the minute Gabriel destroyed their home, it felt more real now that she knew he was never coming back.
He was thirty-six years old and going to die.
By the time she pulled into the driveway at the rental, her entire body was trembling, and her teeth were chattering.
Denny came out of the house, opened the car door, helped her out and into his embrace.“I’m here.I’ve got you.”
The second she was safe in his arms, Isla wailed.No other word could describe the way she let go of the myriad emotions she’d kept bottled up inside for years.She and her brother stood there in the dark for a long time, him consoling her while she cried harder than she had since they lost their parents so suddenly.
In many ways, this reminded her of that terrible time, when she and Denny had clung to each other in the aftermath of disaster.
At some point, he guided her into the house, closed the door and locked it before helping her out of her coat and onto the sofa.He put a blanket over her and then went into the kitchen, returning with a cup of tea made just the way she liked it, with a little bit of milk and some honey.
“Thank you.”
