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“Seth, he threatened to kill us, all of us, if she ever tried to leave him. He told me himself, and he did the same thing to me. He said he’d start with Mitch and work his way down, so I had a choice, one life or many.”
“What the fuck? Why? Why am I just now learning about this?”
She shrugged. “Not my proudest moment. I know you were mad at me for not talking to her. I mean, you never came right out and said anything, but I could tell.”
I wasn’t going to deny it. I’d thought they would have been there for each other more during that time than any other, but Macy’d cut off contact. I’d never understood it, but now I could see it was guilt that kept her from facing her friend.
“So, Macy, why are we taking this trip down nightmare lane? This topic pisses me off. Thinking about what he did to you. What he did to her…” Thinking about what I’m currently doing to her. This whole conversation was piss-poor timing considering last night’s events.
“I know. I’m sorry. I hadn’t thought about it in a really long time. Not all of it. Once I started feeling like my old self again, I moved forward. It was one day at a time, but I did it. But I had someone there. I had Mom and Dad and I had all my annoying brothers, but it was different with Mitch. I love her, Malcolm, and I’m worried about her a lot more than I was before. She needs a Mitch. But...in a pinch you’ll do.” She cut her eyes over at me and grinned.
“Gee, thanks.”
“No problem. All joking aside, there’s a lot going on under the surface with her, but I’m not going to pry.”
“Oh, now I know hell is a solid block of ice.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Anyway. What I was trying to say before you so rudely interrupted me was there were times when I didn’t want to talk, but when I did, it was to Mitch. I could tell him things about my ordeal that I wouldn’t want to tell anyone else. He was my person, and as much as it pains me to say, I think you’re hers.”
Macy got up, fussing about having to pee again and getting Mitch fixed before letting him touch her again. It was my turn to make gagging sounds, and she laughed as she exited the room.
I sat back against the cushions thinking about what Macy’d said. This visit was a hell of a lot more than a ceasefire. I’d gotten more insight into my sister and everything she’d gone through.
“Okay, jerk, I should head out. I can’t leave Mitch alone with London for too long or he might buy her a pony or some shit.”
I laughed, getting up to give her a hug. I grabbed my keys off the counter before following her out of the house.
“Next time, have better food options.”
&n
bsp; “Next time, don’t park in the middle of my driveway.”
“How was I supposed to know you weren’t home?”
“It’s called a telephone. Try using it.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter 42
Calida
I wasn’t sure who was making more noise, Malcolm or Shawn. I finished plating the food, and watched as they played in the living room with Shawn’s toy cars. They both made loud driving sounds while they crawled around on the floor, followed by the occasional crash and boom when one of them wrecked.
“Dinner’s ready.”
“Come on, buddy.” Mal picked Shawn up, flying him through the air.
His chubby little hands eagerly reached out for his plate as I approached his high chair. Once Malcolm got him buckled in, I sat the plate down on the plastic tray. His little fingers picked up fistfuls of the bite-sized peas and carrots and shoved them into his mouth.
I sat Malcolm’s plate on the table, and then I grabbed my plate and wine glass off the counter before joining the boys.
“It looks good.”
“Thanks. And I’m happy you decided to come.”
