The word ‘babysit’ stung, probably because there was truth in it.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Yes, it is. And you’re right.” Her voice had gone flat, emotionless. “I am stuck.I am broken. I haven’t been able to leave this goddamn lighthouse in six years because every time I try, I see her face. I see…” She stopped, breathing hard. “But that’s my problem, Leigh. Not yours. And I won’t be the reason you give up on love.”
“You’re not a problem…”
“Yes, I am. I’ve been a problem for years. I’ve been holding you back, keeping you tethered to Blue Point Bay because I’m too fucked up to function on my own.” She laughed, but it was bitter. “God, no wonder you fell in love with the first guy who showed you a different life. An escape from the broken girl in the lighthouse.”
“That’s not what this is…” I tried not to be angry. I knew she was just lashing out, this was what she did.
“Isn’t it?” She was crying harder now. “Leigh, I love you. You’re my best friend. My sister in every way that matters. But I can’t be your anchor. I can’t be the reason you stay trapped in a life that’s too small for you.”
“My life isn’t too small…”
“Your work is exceptional, Leigh. You could be huge. You could open a bigger studio, hire help, travel the world. But you won’t because you won’t leave me.”
I opened my mouth to protest but she was right. I had turned down opportunities. Avoided expanding. Kept everything small and manageable so I’d always have time for Wren.
“I need you,” I whispered.
“And I need you to go live your life. I need you to choose love and family and happiness. I need you to stop making decisions based on my trauma.” Her voice softened. “Leigh, staying in Blue Point Bay to take care of me isn’t loving me. It’s pitying me. And I can’t live with that.”
“So what are you saying? I should just leave? Abandon you?”
“I’m saying you should go build the life you want. And trust that I’ll figure my shit out.” She took a shaky breath. “I’ve been using you as a crutch. I know that. Every time I need to do something scary, you do it for me. Every time I should push myself, you give me an excuse not to. We’ve been enabling each other, and it has to stop.”
“I don’t know if I can do that. Leave you.”
“You can. And you have to.” She paused. “Leigh, I love you enough to let you go. Can you love me enough to do the same?”
The question hung in the air between us, heavy and terrible.
“What if you’re not okay?” I asked finally.
“Then I’ll call you. And you’ll come visit. Or I’ll…” She stopped, and I could hear her struggling with the words. “Or maybe I’ll even come visit you. In Willowbrook. Meet your sexy mechanic boyfriend and your four brothers and see this life you’ve built.”
“You can’t even leave the lighthouse, Wren.”
“Not yet. But maybe... maybe knowing you’re not right down the road will force me to actually deal with my shit instead of hiding from it.” She laughed, shaky and uncertain. “Or maybe I’ll just order more stuff from Amazon and become an even bigger hermit. But either way, that’s my choice to make. Not yours.”
“I hate this.”
“I know. Me too.” She sniffled. “But Leigh? When you picture your future, your real future… am I the center of it? Or am I just part of it?”
I closed my eyes, forced myself to really think about it.
And I saw myself in Willowbrook. With Dex. With my brothers. Building a life, a family, a home.
And Wren was there, in that vision. But she wasn’t at the center. She was visiting. FaceTiming. Part of my life but not the whole of it.
“You’re part of it,” I whispered. “But not the center.” And there was a part of me that was ashamed of that.
“Then that’s your answer.” Her voice was gentle now, loving. “Go. Build that life. Be happy. And trust that I’ll still be here when you need me. Maybe not in the lighthouse forever. Maybe eventually in my own apartment, or traveling, or doing something completely unexpected. But I’ll be here. Just not as your excuse.”
“You’ve never been an excuse.”
“Yes, I have. We both know it.” She paused. “I’ll be okay, Leigh. I promise. I’ll figure it out. I have to.”
