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“She asked me if it was her fault her mother died.”

I looked at her.

“What?”

“She’s carrying guilt. We’ve been talking about it, and about how she can talk to you.”

“Her mother had cancer.”

“I know.”

“Storie knows that.”

“Knowing what happened hasn’t stopped her from blaming herself. She was there when her mother died. She feels that maybe there was something she could’ve done to help her.”

I rubbed a hand over my mouth.

All those nights she had been upstairs. All the times I’d passed her door and figured she wanted to be left alone. I’d been downstairs trying to keep the house running, making sure somebody had eaten or gotten to an appointment, thinking that if I could handle enough shit, eventually the rest would get easier.

Meanwhile, my daughter had been sitting with that.

“Why wouldn’t she tell me?”

“You lost your wife. She knows that you’re hurting too.”

I looked down at my hands.

“What should I do next?” I asked.

“Make room for her to talk without having to prove that she’s fine. Keep bringing her here. And if you learn anything more about what happened to the horse, tell me. I want us to take that seriously.”

“I hear you.”

She watched me for a second before nodding.

“How are you doing with all of this?”

I gave her a look.

“You trying to get two appointments out of me?”

“That wasn’t my question.”

“I’m handling it.”

I stood before she could decide to investigate that answer.

Outside, I sat in the truck with the door open and let the air hit my face.

I couldn’t believe Storie thought Monica’s death was her fault. That was impossible. It was no one’s fault. Just an act of nature.

I shut the door hard enough to make the water bottle in the cup holder jump.

Skye. Melody. Whatever the fuck her name was, she sent me down this path. And had me doubting my baby girl.

I’d given that woman access to my grandmother, my children, everything I was supposed to protect. Then I’d let her put me in a position where she had me looking at my daughter like she was the manipulative liar.

I picked up my phone and opened our messages.