Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Where’s your sister now?” she asked.
“She moved away a few years back.”
“Why?”
“She took a job in New York City.”
Her eyes grew wide. “I always wanted to go to New York City.”
“Someday you should.”
“Do you miss your sister?”
“Sometimes, yeah,” I admitted. As much as my relationship with Fawn was complicated, I did wish she were here with me. We’d always been competitive, but she was my only sister, and I loved her.
Effie leaned her elbows against the table. “Is she older or younger?”
“She’s three years older than me.”
She sighed. “I wish I had a sister.”
I just smiled. It was probably a female presence she craved more than anything. Perhaps Effie wanted a sister so badly because her mother didn’t seem to be around. I still hadn’t dared ask where that woman was, though I was so damn curious.
Chapter 6
* * *
EVAN
After I sent my little motor-mouth daughter to her room to finish her homework, I regretted it. Effie had been the only buffer tonight. Now the quiet tension between Chloe and me was more obvious.
Chloe stood and took her plate to the sink.
I tried to stop her there. “Leave it,” I barked. “I’ll handle it.”
“It’s the least I can do,” she said, ignoring me and pumping dishwashing soap onto a sponge. “Thank you for dinner.”
She wouldn’t even look at me—well, not if she thought I was watching. I did catch her looking at me when she assumed my attention was elsewhere. Then she’d quickly move her gaze away. But at the moment, she seemed to be making a concerted effort to avoid eye contact altogether. I couldn’t fucking take it anymore.
“Look at me, Chloe.”
She stilled before shutting the water off and placing the plate on the drying rack. When her eyes met mine, I could see the pain in them. I suspected she’d had a hard day. It wasn’t my intention to make it more difficult.
Chloe shook her head. “What are the chances of me ending up at your house, of all places?”
“Not that much of a stretch in this town.” I laughed under my breath. “Tell me about today.”
She wiped her hands on a towel. “What do you want to know?”
I moved in closer. “You said you visited your mom. How is Judy?”
“She called me Judy, actually. That’s how she is.”
“Really…” Man, that hurt. Judy had been like a mother to me, too. When I’d lived with them, she had been sharp as a tack, always so perceptive and insightful. Her presence in my life had been a godsend after my mother got sick. I regretted not visiting her, despite losing touch with the family. I should’ve reconnected with her long before she lost the ability to know who I was.
Chloe leaned against the sink and crossed her arms. “I’m not sure if she calls me by her name because she thinks she’s looking at a younger version of herself or whether she’s generally confused and doesn’t even realize where the name Judy comes from. The only thing I’m sure of is that she doesn’t know who I am.”
“I’m sorry.” I wasn’t sure what else to say about such a horrible situation. Chloe had been close to her mom. While I’d lost mine way too young, this was a different kind of cruelty, to lose someone before they were even physically gone. “I didn’t know how bad it was.”
“It’s as bad as you can imagine.” She looked up at me. “The last time I was home a year ago, it wasn’t like this. She had at least some recognition. She went downhill fast.”
I nodded. “Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
I should’ve checked up on Chloe. But after the letter she’d sent me from school, I’d assumed she wanted nothing to do with me. So I’d stayed out of her life, even when I’d itched to reach out, just to make sure she was okay. There were many times I’d almost done that, only to stop myself.
Her eyes shifted to mine. “It’s not easy being back in town. I mean, I knew it wouldn’t be, but it’s even harder than I imagined.”
“You have no plans to see your father?”
Chloe shook her head and looked down.
“It’s okay to protect your peace for a while,” I said. “But you probably should see him at some point.”
She deflected. “Speaking of protecting your peace… You keep telling me it’s okay that I’m staying in the spare bedroom, but I don’t believe you. I’m trying to get out of your hair because I don’t think me being here is making your life any easier. You’ve got a lot on your plate, too.”
I wanted to tell her that even though I should feel that way, I didn’t. It was actually really damn good to see her, and damn good to have someone else here for Effie’s benefit, too. But the words wouldn’t come out. It was easier to be the sarcastic prick I’d been from the moment she walked in the door. Because feeling anything for this woman would be as dangerous as it always was, just for different reasons this time.