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“We failed with you both, but we can do better with Reese. I knew it the moment I lay eyes on her,” Mama said, falling apart in the diner. “I can be better with her. I know how to fix her.”
“She’s not broken,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “She’s not yours to fix.”
“You have no clue what you’re doing,” Dad told me with coldness in his stare. “You don’t know how to be a parent.”
“Sure I do. I’ll just do the complete opposite of everything you’ve ever done to me.” I turned to my sister, feeling sick to my stomach as the revelations unfolded before me. “Are you ready to go?”
She nodded.
Mama huffed. “Really, Samantha? You’re going to choose her over your own parents?”
“She is my family, Mama. She’s the best family I’ve ever had,” Sammie confessed, squeezing my hand. We headed out of the restaurant and went back to my apartment. The whole ride over, Sammie kept holding my hand, and I was thankful for that. I needed the comfort.
I think she needed it too.
“Are you okay?” she asked me as we stood in the hallway in front of my door.
“Not now. But I will be. Everything makes a bit more sense now, that’s for sure. I always thought I wasn’t enough for them both, but truthfully, they were dealing with their own demons. It had nothing to do with me.” I smiled at her. “Or you. Parents can be broken, too, it turns out.”
I looked down toward Abigail’s apartment and nodded once. “Do you want to meet her? Reese? I’m going to be honest: I don’t know how we move forward with this. I don’t know where we go from this point with her.”
Sammie placed her hands over her heart and nodded. “I’d love to meet her, but only if you’re comfortable with it.”
I nodded and headed over to grab Reese. The moment we walked back to my apartment, I could see the nerves shooting through Sammie. They were running through me too.
“Mama, who is that?” Reese asked with narrowed eyes.
“That’s my sister, Reese. Her name is Sammie.”
Reese’s mouth dropped open. “You have a sister?”
“Yes, I do. And she’s a very strong person.”
Reese smiled at Sammie, who began to cry. Reese frowned at the sight, walked over to Sammie, and hugged her. “Don’t be sad. It’s okay,” she said, giving her comfort.
“Thank you, Reese,” Sammie said, bending down to meet her eye to eye. “Oh my gosh, you’re beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful too. You look like Mama. So, if you’re her sister, does that make you my aunt?”
Sammie looked up to me, and then back to Reese. “I think that does make me your aunt.”
“Oh great!” Reese’s eyes lit up once more, and she hugged Sammie again. “I always wanted an aunt.”
41
EMERY
“When is Mr. Mith going to get back?” Reese groaned as I picked her up from school. Summer had come and gone, and Oliver was back to work with his band, traveling around the US doing interviews for their newest song release. It turned out Alex & Oliver may have come to an end, but Oliver Smith was finding himself day in and day out. Watching him find his footing in a new world without his brother was inspirational and, truthfully, empowering.
I’d missed him a lot during his travels, but our FaceTime calls were enough for me.
Reese, on the other hand? She was missing her best friend.
“He’ll be back next weekend, sweetheart, don’t worry. You’ll be annoying one another again in no time.”
“Good,” she said as we parked the car and headed upstairs to our apartment. Her eyes widened more when we reached our floor and she saw Oliver standing outside my apartment, holding a houseplant in his hand. “Mr. Mith!” she screeched, running in his direction with her backpack on.
I pretty much ran, too, the moment I saw him. “What are you doing here?” I asked, leaning in to kiss him.
“Took an early flight home. Figured I’d stop by to see my girls. Plus, I wanted to get you another houseplant to add to your collection.” I laughed a little but grew silent as I looked down at the plant. Staring back at me was a huge diamond ring.
“Oliver,” I muttered, stunned by what I was seeing.
He got down on one knee in front of me and held the ring in his hand. “I love so many pieces of you, Emery Taylor. I love the quiet parts, and the loud ones too. I love how you give your all to everyone around you, and also save some love for yourself. I love your cooking, and I love your laugh. I love the way you love your daughter. I love her too. I love your daughter. And if you’ll allow it, I’d love to spend the rest of my life being able to shower that love on you both from this point on. Marry me, Emery. Marry me, and I’ll keep you forever,” he swore.
