AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Where is here?”
“This cabin. Joe and I stayed here as kids with”—he paused a moment—“my father.”
“Oh. Whose is it?”
“It’s mine now, I guess. It belonged to my father, and my mother wasn’t on the deed. My father left it to me in the will.”
“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I wasn’t sure I wanted it. I mean, this is where…”
“Where what?”
“Sometimes Joe and I stayed here with him during our camping trips. Other times we slept in tents.”
“So you have memories,” I said.
He nodded. “The thing is, the memories I have are mostly good.”
“Then cherish them, Bryce.”
“How can I? How can I when so many others have horrible memories related to my father? Talon? Colin? My cousin Luke?” He shook his head. “Sometimes I think Luke was the lucky one. He doesn’t have those horrible memories.”
“He’s dead, Bryce.”
“Maybe that’s a gift in itself.”
“Are you kidding me? Talon is alive, and he found love and he’s got two kids and one on the way. Do you really think he’d be better off dead?”
“Well…no.”
“And Colin? This is new for Colin, but he’s my age. He has his whole life ahead of him. He’ll get the help he needs, and he’ll have a life. I’m so sorry about Luke. I truly am. But neither Talon nor Colin would be better off dead.”
“What about Ruby’s friends? Juliet and Lisa? And Shayna?”
“First of all, Shayna escaped. She was traumatized, but she was never physically abused. She’s doing well. And Ruby told me that Juliet and Lisa are in therapy. It’s a struggle, yes, but they’re both younger than Colin. They will be okay. According to Ruby, they’re both happy to be alive.”
He stared straight ahead, his headlights still on and focused on the small cabin.
“And Bryce,” I said, “you’re alive too. Don’t ever forget that. Don’t let the guilt eat you. It’s not your fault that you weren’t abused by your father.”
He turned to me. “I know. Joe and I have talked about it.”
“Have you talked to a professional?”
“No. Not yet, anyway. Melanie offered, but she’s Joe’s wife. It feels…weird.”
“If it helps, I’ve talked to Melanie professionally. She’s amazing.”
“You?”
“Of course me. Do you think you’re the only one who came out of this mess
scathed?”
“I certainly don’t think that. You know I don’t think that. But you… You always seem so together. So whole.”
I couldn’t help a sarcastic laugh. The wound on my thigh was still healing. “Don’t belittle what any one of us has gone through.”
