“So do I,” Frank murmured. “But we can’t protect Sophie from herself forever. At some point, she has to face the consequences of her own choices. And that point is now. All because of her own doing.”
Essie got up and went to Frank, leaning into him, pressing her head against his shoulder, letting his warmth and solidness steady her.
“If Chad is willing to draw a line,” Frank said softly, his arms around her. “Then maybe it’ll be the wake-up call she needs.”
Essie closed her eyes, praying he was right. Because if Sophie kept pushing, Essie wasn’t sure how much more their hearts could take.
Still holding her, Frank said, “How about pizza with extra cheese and a side of garlic bread from Giovanni’s?”
She smiled. “And two servings of their chocolate walnut cake?”
Frank let out a little laugh. “Now that is exactly what we need.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Idon’t want to toot my own horn, but these are good.” Maude turned the laptop so Blaise could see the photos she’d just uploaded from her phone. They were both on the couch, the laptop on the coffee table. They’d been at this for a few hours. “Of course, you get final say, but I definitely have a few favorites.”
Blaise leaned in to see them better. “What do I do? Just tap the mouse pad?”
“Tap that little arrow,” Maude said.
The first image popped up, filling the screen. It was Blaise standing where the water kissed the shore, her sundress fluttering in the breeze, gold earrings catching the sunlight like tiny stars.
Blaise inhaled slowly. “That one…looks like someone I used to know.”
“Someone impressive,” Maude said with a grin. “Someone who knows exactly what the camera loves. No wonder you did so well as a model. You’re super photogenic. You literally don’t take a bad shot.”
“You’re very kind,” Blaise said. “But trust me, I’m as capable of ugly as anyone else you know.”
“Doubt it,” Maude said.
They scrolled through more photos. Blaise laughing at something Maude said behind the camera, Blaise hands on hips with confidence carved into every line of her posture, Blaise looking far out to sea with a soft expression that was simultaneously wistful, sad, and full of hope.
“Oh,” Blaise whispered at the next one. It was another coral sundress shot, her hair loose and eyes bright and staring straight into the lens. “That one might be my favorite.”
“It’s one of mine, too. It’s really honest. I mean, the fine lines around your eyes are visible but they give you this credibility that just says so much, don’t you think?”
Blaise laughed. “Maybe I should hire you to do my PR.”
Maude snorted. “I just call ’em like I see ’em.” She made a mental note. “Then that one goes in the ‘definitely yes’ folder.”
“What would I do without you?” Blaise asked in a voice that held some teasing, but a whole lot of appreciation.
“You’d still be stunning,” Maude replied with a sly look. “Just a lot less searchable.”
Blaise laughed and Maude enjoyed the sound. She liked seeing her friend happy, liked knowing that she’d helped.
They were down to the final batch of pics when Maude’s phone chimed on the end table. She reached for it without thinking—expecting a meme from Paige or more group chat chaos.
Instead, the message on the screen made her stomach dip. It was from Robbie, her brother. The text was short:Can we talk? Call me when you can.
Just reading them, she felt the weight of their history crammed into those two short sentences. She knew exactly whatthe message meant. He needed something. That seemed like the only reason he reached out to her these days.
Blaise tipped her head, eyes narrowed. “Everything okay?”
Maude swallowed, pressing the phone face-down against her thigh. “My brother. We’ve been a little out of sync since I moved here.”
Blaise nodded in quiet understanding. “Sibling dynamics can be complicated. I have a younger sister who’s had to live in my shadow, so I get it. Sadly, we pretty much live separate lives. Is that sort of the case here? I could see it. You are a pretty amazing person. Lot to live up to.”
