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“I can’t believe that she kept this side of herself from me for so long,” Boris said eventually.
“Didshe keep it from you, though?“ Chuck challenged softly.
Boris sat with this for a moment. Considered it. “I just thought that she was immature. Like she didn’t want to grow up.”
“Maybe there’s a part of her thatdoesfeel like that. But if you make that part feel ashamed, then the other parts of her — the parts thatdowant to grow up — become stunted. Hurt.”
Boris nodded. “Charles, this is making so much sense to me.” He looked as though he’d been given some profound truth, and it had blown his conception of the world apart.
“Call me Chuck.”
Out of nowhere, Boris said, “I want you to know that I respect you for leaving the UK when you did.”
“Why’s that?”
“I could see how close you were with Millie. She worshiped you, thought the world of you. I know that part of the reason you left is because you had feelings for her, too.”
Chuck’s heart pounded in his chest. “I would never have acted on those feelings.”
“And I’m grateful for that. But… here… she’s a grown woman. And you have a deeper understanding of her than anyone I’ve ever known.”
“Boris, it’s more than that.” His voice caught in his throat. “I l-love her.”
For a moment, the tiniest sliver of time, it looked as though Boris was on the verge of tears. His big, brown eyes, so similar to Millie’s, swelled up with tears, and then he swallowed hard.
“Well. What are we waiting for? We better go tell her.”
“Really?”
“Of course. We should give her the choice, at least. Don’t you think?”
Chuck and Boris practically ran down the corridor to Millie’s room. The two of them reminisced briefly about old horses they’d raised together, and old troubles they’d had. But there wasn’t much time.
“Millie?” Chuck said. “Open up, darling. Everything’s gonna be alright.”
No answer.
Suddenly, a chill flowed through Chuck’s veins.
Not again. He couldn’t be here again.
With a growl of fear, he kicked open the door.
This time, Millie was here.
But she was lying on the floor, in a pool of her own vomit. Her face was ashen, almost blue.
As he took in the scene, images of his mother swam up in Chuck’s mind. This couldn’t be happening.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Therewasnotimeto think, no time to give in to panic. Chuck didn’t even consider Boris, he didn’t consider himself. All that he knew was that he wasn’t going to lose someone he loved. Not again.
Chuck was in a dream. On autopilot. It was like some other force had taken control of him and wouldn’t let go.
“Get my brother,” he barked at Boris.
“Wha—“
