Page 123 of Sterling Stone

“And all you can do, as the eldest sister, is love the rest of them.”

She nods, closing her eyes.

“You can’t change who they are. How they are built or what they carry inside. You can only love them as they are.” I squeeze.

Taxi nods again, her head bobbing. She hears me. She understands me, but it’s still hard.

I’m forty-seven, and I still worry about each and every one of my siblings like I’m still responsible for them. I was never responsible for who they are. I acted responsibly for them. I kept us together and gave them a home, and provided what we could afford until the Seed & Soil took off again.

It was hard. The frustration in Taxi’s face is exactly how I felt for years.

But Taxi’s sisters are adults now. They’re accountable only to themselves.

“The best you can ever do is just be there for them,” I state. Be present. Like she’s been doing for Trudy and Simon.

“When the cell service works,” I add, hoping to ease the tension in her hands, which are suddenly gripping mine hard.

Like she’s holding onto me to ground herself.

“You’re a strong, beautiful, capable woman, Tallulah Alexander. Don’t you ever forget it.”

A tear leaks down her cheek, and she releases my hand to swipe at it.

The waitress returns with the sweet tea Taxi ordered, and we sit back like we’ve been caught almost kissing.

“Better?” I ask, once the waitress walks away, knowing a few words might not make the situation any better, but I’m here for her, and I remind her of that as well. “I’m always here for you, Taxi.”

I’ll always be right here in Sterling Falls, where sometimes our cell service is spotty. But I never leave. Wherever she goes, I’ll still be right here.

She nods again, brushing at her other cheek. She blinks a few times, then reaches for a paper napkin in the metal container. She dabs at her eyes.

“Two grilled cheese specials.” The waitress slides the sturdy plates onto the table.

Taxi and I break apart again.

“Thank you,” she soggily says to the waitress, continuing to break my heart.

“Eat your sandwich, Taxi.” I watch her, her eyes still avoiding me. “And then I have a surprise for you after lunch.”

“Stone,” she groans, like she can’t take any more surprises.

“I promise. This is a good one.”

When she glances up at me, I have my hand over my badge, making a silent vow to her.

She’s going to love the surprise. I hope.

She picks up a French fry and bites, slowly chewing, while I reach for the ketchup. With a sharp whack, I send a giant dollop to my plate. Then I dip the corner of my grilled cheese in the red sauce.

Taxi stares at me. “What are you doing?”

I shrug, like it’s no big deal. “Dipping my grilled cheese in the ketchup.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Don’t people typically dip it in soup?”

“Do they?” I say, knowing the answer.

She continues to watch me as I take another swipe through the ketchup and bite into the sandwich.