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“—communication.”

“Exactly.” Dr. Greene’s eyes sparkled again. “I know you’ve been paying attention.”

Cassie tried smiling, but it came out more like a grimace.

Her therapist didn’t miss a beat. “What else are you worried about?”

“I’m not the same person I used to be. She isn’t either. My life is so different now. I want to tell her so much. She needs to know more about me.” Cassie’s eyes once again drifted to the ghost of the little boy in the corner of the room. “But that requires time and energy and a willingness to listen.”

“Is there anything indicating that Laura isn’t willing to listen?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean she will be.”

“True.” Dr. Green shrugged her shoulders. “But as much as we’d love to, we can’t control other people’s reactions. Or their emotions. Or their actions.”

“That’s stupid,” Cassie said, eliciting a laugh from her therapist.

“I don’t disagree with you. Life would be much easier if we could predict how people interacted with us.” Dr. Greene checked her watch. “We’re almost out of time for today. Did you ask Laura if she’d be joining us next time?”

Cassie dropped her head. “No, not yet.”

“Okay, well no pressure. It’s there if you want it. If not, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of other stuff to talk about.”

“Don’t we always?” Cassie shook her head. Even after a decade of therapy, Cassie and her therapist always had something to talk about. Then again, therapy as a constant in her life was reassuring, but weird. She might not tell her therapist everything, like that she could see ghosts or get psychic visions. But it was nice to talk to someone who wouldn’t judge her, no matter how anxious her thoughts got.

She owed her therapist a great deal of gratitude.

Dr. Greene stood and walked to the door. “When will you be picking up your sister?”

Cassie checked the time on her phone. “Four hours and counting.”

She tried to not let the dread built up in the pit of her stomach show on her face.

Book 2: Chapter 3

Cassie’s heart drummed against her chest as she stood in the Atlanta Airport baggage claim area, wondering if she would spot her sister before her sister spotted her. Her palms were sweating, and she felt dizzy as mobs of people shuffled back and forth, grabbing their bags and hugging their loved ones.

How long had it been since she’d last seen Laura? Three or four years? She’d returned to Savannah for a few days in the spring to visit her friends. She hadn’t stayed with Cassie. But they’d met up for an awkward dinner which was nice, but superficial.

This time felt different.

Laura was visiting her. She had returned to Savannah to be with her. The plan was to spend a long weekend catching up, getting reacquainted, and visiting some of their favorite spots in town. Then, they’d pack their bags and head to Charlotte to talk to their parents as a unit. It was time to change the relationship between all four of them.

Cassie caught a flash of red amidst a sea of blondes and brunettes. Laura’s hair had always been brighter than Cassie’s auburn locks, making it easier to spot Laura in a crowd. Laura made a beeline for the conveyor belt, giving Cassie a moment to catch her breath.

Laura hadn’t changed much in the last few years. She was shorter than Cassie, but more athletic and muscular. Tonight, she wore leggings and a long shirt with a pair of flats. A backpack hung off one shoulder, and as she leaned forward to grab her bag, her soft curls fell in front of her face.

Once Laura snatched her suitcase and set it on the ground, pulling up the handle to wheel it behind her, she scanned the crowd and found Cassie’s gaze. For a moment, the two stared at each other in shock, and then they broke out in twin smiles.

Cassie waited for Laura to push her way through the crowd, still nervous about what the next few days would entail. Once Laura was in front of her, Cassie felt her arms reach out and pull Laura into a hug so tight her sister squeaked in surprise.

“Watch the ribs,” Laura said. “I kind of need those.”

“Sorry.” Cassie pulled back and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “How was your flight?”

“Not bad.” Laura shrugged and made her way to the door. “It’s not that bad of a flight. I just hate sitting next to gross dudes who don’t know how to refrain from manspreading.”

Cassie cringed. “Gross.

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