Page 122 of Forbidden to Fall

I moved the tray for them to see more clearly. “S’more maple blondies.”

The people in the back of the crowd went up on their toes to get a look.

“Would anyone like to try a fresh batch?” I asked. “I just took these out of the oven. They’ll be a bit gooey since they haven’t had time to set, but…” The last part was drowned out by unanimous consent.

James smiled at me and showed the group into the room, then worked on getting some paper plates as I cut up the blondies.

The group was chatty, and I fielded questions while I worked. Since the blondies hadn’t had time to cool, the pieces weren’t neat. Mrs. Keller would be mortified if any of her products looked like the baking aisle massacre these treats resembled.

It got much quieter once everyone had their plate and could try their treat. A staggered chorus of mm’s started up, making me smile.

Like the blondies, things were messy in my life right now. But messy didn’t have to mean bad. I had to believe that things would cool and set with time.

I just didn’t know if I could wait eight more years for that to happen.

It had gotten fully dark by the time the group headed to their cars. James saw them off while I cleaned up, but he was back a few minutes later, and we were alone in the space again.

Our space.

At least, that’s how it had come to feel.

James shut the door behind him and dusted off his hands.

I was drying a mixing bowl, but he came up behind me, took it, and set it down, then did the same with the towel.

Without a word, he wrapped his arms around me.

I’d been doing pretty well for the past couple of hours, but my eyes burned. I blinked quickly as he nestled his head next to mine.

“I got a text just before going to get Mia,” I said. “Apparently, she’s not feeling well.”

I didn’t have to explain my fears or suspicions to him. He understood.

As heartbroken as I was feeling, there was a thread of joy and gratitude beneath it for James.

I let out a long breath and shut my eyes, letting myself enjoy being held by him.

“Sadie?”

“Mm?”

There was a pause.

“I hate what I’m doing to you.”

We’d been rocking gently, but I stopped and pulled away so I could turn and look at him.

His throat bobbed. “How can I possibly ask this of you? It’s too much.”

“Ryan will come around.” I had to believe that—that our bond as siblings was stronger than his hatred of James. That, in time, he’d see the evidence stacking up against his understanding of James. He’d loved James once; he’d get there again.

“And if he doesn’t?” James finally asked softly.

My body tightened.

“I want to believe he will,” James said, “but I’d hoped he’d have softened after eight years. I’m scared he won’t—and even more afraid of the hurt that would cause you. I’d understand if you started to resent me over time.”

I shook my head as an image flashed across my mind: James and me, five years from now, seeing pictures of Ryan, Lily, and Mia on social media. Watching her grow up in pictures rather than experiencing it in real life.