“Tee, are you alright?”
My sister sighs on the other side.
“What happened?” I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge.
“I’m under house arrest.”
I shut the refrigerator and walk back to the living room. “What? How? Where is Father?”
“He’s the one locking me in.” She huffs.
I let out a long sigh and collapse onto the sofa. My hand goes to my stomach. These adrenaline spikes can’t be good for the baby. “So you’re grounded? Why?”
“Nico was busy, so Rowan came to pick me up at school.”
Our oldest brother is the most protective of us. And the biggest asshole at the same time. “How is that a reason for grounding?”
“He caught me kissing a guy.” She whimpers.
Nico would probably look the other way, but Rowan… well, he means well, I think, but compassion isn’t his strong suit.
“I’m sorry, Tee.” I rub my flat belly.
It’s become a weird compulsion ofmine to stay connected to something—someone—I still can’t believe exists.
“Father said that if you came for his birthday dinner, he would let me join the family and go back to school.” The hope in her voice burns my throat.
I swallow. “He doesn’t let you go to school?”
Of course my father would blackmail my sister into getting to see me. I need to figure out how to flee these family dynamics completely. I don’t want my child to be forever under their influence.
“Will you come? Please?” I hear her unshed tears through the line.
“Tell him I’ll be there.” The words fall out, but their weight settles in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
I avoided the man for two years, but I guess the time is up.
“Okay, I’ll tell him, and have Nico text you the details.”
I nod as if she can see me.
“Ro?”
“Yes?”
“Will you really come?”
As much as I tried to protect her, she’s already learned not to trust. She’s already realized that everything in life is a transaction. I might want to save her, but the damage is done.
I didn’t realize when I left how my absence would form her views. Indirectly, perhaps, but still.
I thought I would protect her, but instead, I left her unprotected.
“I will come.”
“Thank you.”
We stay silent for I don’t know how long, just keeping each other company without the need to speak.
