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“Okay, dear, go on. We can do our best with the puzzle.” I hear his sad undertone.

“Thanks.”

I hear her receding footsteps.

Dad comes into the kitchen. “Son, is it true that she’s leaving?”

“I told her I would take her,” Ice answers. My dad sighs. He knows our plan wasn’t to leave for another two days.

“I’m sorry, Bruce, that your brother caused this.” He says,

I nod. “I honestly didn’t know he was capable of such behavior.” He’s contrite that he called David over.

“He lied to Bruce. David left a hickey on her. She saw it this morning,” Ice says.

“I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t want to keep it from her,” dad says.

“I can’t lie to her,” I reply. “Just as I can’t stop her if she wants to leave.” I take a bite of the eggs but they taste dry in my mouth. “Go on, dad, she’ll be back down soon,” I say and turn to my food.

Dad leaves and I just shove food into my mouth. I can’t taste anything.

I just need to think about how to get her to forgive me.

Chapter forty-two

Lexi/ Jola

I race to our room to pack up. I’m not sure I can sleep here tonight. I pull the suitcase and a thought crosses my mind about what I can do to help myself sleep without the pill and not be dependent on anyone. Though I have tried in the past and nothing worked, maybe it’s time I try again. I want to Google it and realize my phone is in the kitchen. In my haste to avoid Bruce, I had left it in there. I return to grab it and overhear some of their conversation, with Bruce saying he can’t lie to me and he can’t stop me from leaving. I lean against the wall, taking it all in. Can I really blame him for his brother’s callous action?

Even Mr. Powell didn’t think David could do what he did. Ice did say Bruce almost killed his brother. Maybe I need to cut him some slack. It really wasn’t his fault, but he can’t leave me vulnerable again. He and I need to talk. Shutting him out isn’t the answer.

Instead of going back up, I briskly move towards the sunroom where the puzzle is set up. Mr. Powell is heading towards it. I join him. We start the puzzle together in palpable silence. I hear Ice leaving and Bruce comes to check in on us, dropping my phone next to me before he leaves.

Once we hear the creaking sound of him heading towards the office, Mr. Powell speaks.

“Can you please find it in your heart to forgive Bruce? And I’m sorry David caused a fight between you two,” he quietly states. “David has always been the wild one. Drinking and drugs, yes, but molesting his brother’s sleeping girlfriend while the brother is a few feet away is beyond me. If I wasn’t here last night, I would be burying a son today. Bruce wanted to kill him.” He sighs. “Now I sense that Bruce feels he has lost you, and for that I’m sorry,” he says, contrite, clasping my hand in his.

“Thank you for telling me,” I respond.

He nods and pats my hand.

We continue adding puzzle pieces in calm silence. After about an hour, we decide to take a break and grab some snacks.

Chapter forty-three

Lexi

I grab some snacks from the kitchen and race up the stairs. I curl up on the bed. A few minutes later, I hear the door open and close. I know it’s him. I can always sense his presence.

“Jola,” he calls out.

I don’t answer.

“Jola,” he calls out again.

Instead of answering, I uncurl my body and turn to face him. “I’m sorry about this,” he says.

“Will you be okay if I leave?” I ask.