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"Until a few years later, when the past reared its ugly head. Steve was his name and he tried to take Bella and Lynne from us. They were five and six now, and it confused the hell out of them. Your father became enraged and he went crazy, kicking the shit out of Steve." My mother's eyes flash to mine. Yep, two of a kind. The same anger as me.
"After that, Bella and Lynne were never the same."
My mind runs over my childhood and things click into place. Why Bella and Lynne were distant, as if they were part of another family.
It makes sense now.
My mother sniffles into her coffee cup.
"Oh, Mom, it's okay." Jane rubs her arm.
"Why did you tell us now?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.
"After the way Bella and Lynne acted at dinner, I decided it was time you two know. Your father and I have gone to therapy and we've aired a lot of dirty laundry. It's all part of healing."
I stand and move around the table. Reaching down, I pull my mother in for a hug.
"Thanks, ma." I whisper as she squeezes me tight.
~E~
Halloween and Thanksgiving pass quietly.I spend most of my time with Sarah, Zeke, Abbie, and her new boyfriend, Cole.
They never make me feel like the fifth wheel, and though sometimes I do, I'm grateful for their friendship.
Work is the same. Knox and I avoid each other, though I heard rumors he's leaving. My stomach heaved when I eavesdropped on Faye discussing it with another coworker.
He's free to do what he wants, who am I to say anything?
Until one cold December day, a letter on my doorstep changes everything.
Em,
I hope you're doing okay.
I'm sure you've heard the rumors about me leaving the practice.
They’re true. I'm leaving.
But, I'm not going far. I'm opening my own practice down in Warwick.
It's a small, quiet building, away from the city, but still accessible.
There's only one problem.
It's missing something.
And, that something is you. Will you join me?
Come with me and open our own business together.
Sure, it's risky, but isn't life all about the risks?
Sarah called me—wait, don't kill her yet.
She told me how miserable you are and guess what?
I'm miserable too.
