Page 133 of Sterling Stone

And I hadn’t known then how much I needed Trudy Wallace to accept me. The last thing I want is for her to tell me to leave now.

I clear my throat. “Well, I don’t mean here. In your house. I just mean in Sterling Falls.”

Aunt Trudy’s hands come to her hips. “And now what’s wrong with my precious cottage?”

I glance at Jolene, then back at Aunt Trudy. “Well nothing, other than it’s a little small for the three of us.” I’m thinking Trudy, Simon, and me, because Jolene won’t be staying, and that’s an issue for another day. “And your couch is lumpy.”

“Understatement,” Jolene attempts to say under her breath.

Aunt Trudy turns her glare on my sister. “Says the girl supposedly sleeping in tents in the jungle.”

It appears Aunt Trudy is questioning Jolene’s stories as much as me. Who knew?

Jolene is quiet, but I feel the anger brewing beneath her skin. Her own battles, like Stone said.

Three siblings can be raised in one household and each of them will turn out differently.

“Why would you want to stay here?” The underlying disgust in her voice makes me wonder what she’s doing here.

Instead, I ignore my questions about her life and point at Trudy. “Because she’s family and I love her.”

I turn back toward Trudy, knowing I’ve never really said the words with the same emotion I feel in this instant. Love you had been a throwaway phrase in response to her salutation on each phone call, where she proclaimed she loved me.

“I love you, Aunt Trudy, and I’d like to stick around a little longer. Probably a lot longer.”

Slowly, her lips curl. Her mouth widens. Her eyes soften. “I’d like that, baby girl. Simon would like that, too.”

Simon. Oh God, I don’t want him to think he isn’t wanted. I want to get to know him better. Our journey has only just begun. We’re making progress, slow but steady progress. I can’t turn my back on him. I promised him I’d stay, and I want to prove myself.

Let me show you who I am.

Oh, God. Stone.

“Now, if we’re done trying to dictate my life, I’m going to bed,” Trudy states, lifting her chin. Then points between Jolene and me. “I suggest you two do as well.”

Once Trudy leaves us, I glare at Jolene, not certain where to start with her, and then decide I don’t want to start at all.

She’s a grown ass adult. I cannot change her. I don’t want to change her. I accept her. Okay, well, not her sleeping with a cheating man, but it isn’t my right to judge her decisions. It isn’t my place to dictate her life. I can only love her, even if I don’t like her choices.

Family. It’s complicated.

“I’m headed to Gloria,” I state, excusing myself.

Once I climb into my camper van, I stare up at the ceiling, questioning all my life choices.

Staying away from Sterling Falls for all these years. Keeping myself distant from Trudy.

Chasing, chasing, chasing.

Not a man.

A dream, perhaps.

Then again, I’m living a dream. Maybe what I’ve been searching for all this time is me. I’ve been living a life but not loving it as I should. Chasing something I wasn’t going to find anywhere other than the only place I’ve ever considered home.

Stone.

His name so easily comes to mind when I thought Trudy would take the top spot.