It’s not how I thought the evening would end, but somehow, it’s better.
All the doubts I had about Rae’s intentions have evaporated. All the hesitations I had about her character are dismissed.
She’s incredible. Loyal. Hard-working. She’s everything I admire and more. She’s strong, and brave, and vulnerable all at once.
And she gave herself to me. She wanted to give me even more…but does she still feel the same way? The walls between us may have been broken today, but Sawyer’s arrival shifts things.
We aren’t alone anymore. Even if Sawyer forgives his sister and reconnects with his family, it doesn’t mean he’ll want me anywhere near her. It’s a tangled web of family relationships, and I’m not sure I fit into any of it.
The right thing to do would be to forget what occurred between me and Rae. Pretend it never happened. Let her reconnect with her family and give them all space…
…but Rae has a hold on me, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to stay away.
16
Rae
I glance at Benji in the rearview mirror as my heart squeezes. It’s surreal to have Sawyer sitting next to me, and I have Benji to thank for that.
For someone who pretends to be gruff and mean and heartless, Benji is the one who told Sawyer to come back to Woodvale again. He’s the link that brought my brother into my life after three and a half years without any contact.
If he hadn’t emailed Sawyer, would my brother have come back? Or would he have disappeared like he did three and a half years ago?
Turning onto my street, I take a deep breath and park the car.
Sawyer clears his throat, making me pause before I open the door. His eyes, deep brown and full of pain, reach into mine.
“Is that really why you stayed behind? Because Lucy got pregnant?”
A lump forms in my throat. I play with the keys in my hand, staring at my lap. Finally, I drag my gaze up to his.
“Yes. When I called you and texted you to come meet me—told you I wanted to talk to you—it was to explain about Lucy. I knew Mom and Dad wouldn’t approve of her keeping the baby, and I wasn’t sure if they’d kick her out or not. I wanted to make a plan.”
“And they did?”
I nod, dropping my gaze. As much as I admire my parents for their business savvy, a part of me still can’t believe they disowned Lucy for getting pregnant. There’s a weird sort of cognitive dissonance inside me. I can look at them and see them as slightly narcissistic, self-centered people who still do nice things for me—but at the same time, admit to myself they tore my siblings and me apart.
How does that make sense? How can I keep them in my life when they’ve treated Lucy so horribly?
I don’t have an explanation for that. All I know is what I want most is a family. For better or worse, that includes my parents.
“You accepted the job because you wanted to provide for Lucy?” Sawyer’s voice breaks on the last word, and I can feel the shame rolling off him in waves.
I reach over to take my brother’s hand, my bottom lip trembling. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I took their job and their money. I’m sorry I stayed behind. I felt horrible for betraying you like that, Sawyer, but I had to.”
He shakes his head, squeezing my hand. “You shouldn’t be apologizing. I’ve been telling myself the same old story about you being just like our parents—selfish, money-hungry, backstabbing—but you’re not. You’re the opposite. You spent another three and a half years in a city you hate just to help Lucy and…”
He trails off, and I smile. “Roman. Her son’s name is Roman.”
“I’m sorry, Rae.” It’s a whisper, but Sawyer’s eyes scream regret.
I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time. When everything happened with Lucy’s pregnancy, the business, and Sawyer’s departure, I hoped we’d come back together again. I worked every day from dawn until dusk to make sure my brother and sister had money. That they had a chance to make something of themselves.
All the while, this is what I wanted. I wanted my brother to look at me with something other than hostility.
“I love you, Sawyer,” I finally say. “I know we never really said it to each other growing up, but I do. I never meant to hurt you.”
Sawyer’s eyes are watery. He blinks, and a tear races down his cheek, reaching his chin before he wipes it away.
Leaning over the gear shift, my brother gives me an awkward hug, and my heart lets out a deep sigh. Peace settles into my bones, and I feel like a new chapter in my life can start.
My brother doesn’t hate me. Lucy was right—he understands.
As if she can sense our presence, the front door opens, and our sister stands in the doorway with Roman in her arms. A smile splits the little boy’s face open, shining a light on all of us. He raises a chubby arm to wave at Sawyer and me. I laugh, blinking away the moisture in my eyes.
He’s in pajamas, his hair damp from a bath. I feel like Lucy could sense this moment and kept him up past his bedtime for this exact reason. Either that, or Roman knew he’d meet his uncle in some cosmic, all-knowing-toddler sixth sense and decided he needed to stay up.
“Ready to meet your nephew?”
Sawyer lets out a trembling breath, nodding, and we exit the car.
I may have dreamed of this moment for over three years, but I never knew exactly how it would play out. I thought there might be tears. I hoped there’d be forgiveness.
The reality is so much better. In approximately two and a half seconds, Roman melts Sawyer’s heart. I see it happen, watching Sawyer’s face soften and change. Lucy sets her son on the ground, and he rushes toward the
