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“What brings you by?” Ryan asked, gesturing his sister inside.
“I wanted to talk to you about Zoe.”
Ryan’s first impulse was to snap at his twin about staying out of his personal life, but he swallowed it. Susannah’s concerned expression told him she was trying to help.
“What about Zoe?”
“I went by the store to see her.”
He led the way into his living room and turned off the TV. As silence pressed down on the space, he exhaled heavily.
“Why did you do that?”
Susannah sat on his couch, looking unruffled at his grouchy attitude. “I wanted to hear her version of what happened with Everly Briggs.”
“And now that you have?”
“She regrets ever meeting the woman and wishes she could change the decisions she made.”
“Don’t we all.” Ryan flopped onto the couch and leaned his head back against the cushion beside his sister. “Have you spoken with Jefferson?”
“Of course.” Susannah sounded surprised at his question.
“And?”
“And what?”
“Are you getting a divorce?”
“It’s far too early to make such a decision. He’s ended the thing with Patty.” Susannah’s even tone gave no indication how she felt about that.
Ryan’s heart ached for his sister. “I guess that’s a start? So, what’s next?”
A faint line appeared between Susannah’s brows. “I’d like to keep my family intact. We’ve decided to seek counseling.” With a fond smile, Susannah reached out and squeezed his hand. “But what I really wanted to talk about tonight is you and Zoe.”
“There is no me and Zoe.”
“She’s planning to leave Charleston,” Susannah said.
This news was a blow Ryan wasn’t ready for. “When?”
“As soon as she gets everything settled with the store. She’s being evicted.”
“Why?”
“Seems her ex-husband bought the property so he could continue to mess up her life.” Sympathy glinted in Susannah’s eyes.
The news roused his protective instinct. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“She found out the same day she received the video,” his sister explained. “Maybe she thought my problem was more important than her own.”
Ryan closed his eyes against the sharp pain in his chest. “You can’t possibly be taking her side in this, too.”
Susannah waved away his accusation. “I’m not taking sides. What do you mean ‘too’?”
“Paul thinks I’m crazy to let her go.”
“I’ve always liked Paul. He’s very sensible.”
