My heart sinks. There go my hopes of reconciliation.
Maybe Sawyer was right. Our parents have no interest in changing their opinions about us. They’ve become so accustomed to their own lifestyle that they can’t see any other way of living.
Still, it’s too painful to admit. I want to believe that I can have a relationship with them. I don’t want to give up.
“Can we talk about this in person?” My voice almost breaks on the last word. “My flight back down to Houston is a week from now. Or—do you want to come up here? You could meet your grandson.”
My mother huffs. “I’m afraid we can’t, Rae. If you’d come to see us when I asked, I could have told you. Your father is retiring. We’ve bought a house in Milan and are moving there tomorrow. We can’t change our flights.”
“You’re…” My voice trails off. “Milan, Italy?”
“If you want to discuss these things, you’d better come down here before we leave. We had such high hopes for you, Rae. Your father put your name on the board and fought for the rest of the members to accept you. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. No one wanted to give you the job.”
Gee, thanks.
My mother tuts. “He was counting on you, Rae. We even transferred the house here to you. It was going to be a special congratulations present from us. I’ll have to call the lawyer to change all that now, because evidently you want nothing to do with us.”
“That’s not what I said, Mom. I want the opposite! I want you to meet your grandson and see Sawyer for the first time in nearly four years. I want everything to do with you.”
She lets out a dramatic sigh. My heart tugs.
I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a precipice. I have a decision to make. Do I hang up and turn my back on my parents? Do I try to bring them closer to my siblings?
A crack forms right down the middle of my chest. My family is splitting, and I don’t know how to fix it. Maybe it was naive of me to think that I could, but I’m just not ready to give up. Everything I’ve done for the past three years—even longer! For my whole life!—has all been to bring us closer together.
I want my parents to see Sawyer and Lucy for the amazing people they are, and I want my siblings to see my parents as more than just money-hungry vampires. I know in my heart of hearts that there’s good in everyone. I know that my family could have a functional relationship, if only they wanted to try.
I close my eyes, not ready to admit that this family is broken. I’m not ready to give up. Not ready to turn my back on the people who gave me life. Not ready to choose between my parents and my siblings.
I have to try.
One last time, I need to talk to my mother and father, and ask them to come meet Sawyer and Lucy. I’ve always been the glue. It’s always been me.
The reason I’ve been able to reconnect with Sawyer is because I gave it my best.
Because I put in the effort and had hope it would work out.
Don’t I owe my parents the same thing?
I straighten my shoulders, clenching my jaw. “I’ll get on the next flight.”
My mother huffs.
“I’ll come down and see you before you leave, Mom.”
“Well, it’s the least you could do,” she says. “After lying to us for weeks.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have lied. I’ll see you soon.”
When I hang up the phone, I hold it to my chest and squeeze my eyes shut. I hear the creaking of a floorboard and look up to see Lucy in the kitchen doorway. Her eyebrows are drawn together, her shoulder-length hair tucked behind her ears.
She tilts her head. “What about the party?”
My heart squeezes so hard it hurts. I let out a long breath, shaking my head. “Benji will understand.”
“Are you sure? This party is important to him. You’ve seen how stressed he is about the preparations.”
“It’s just a party. Mom and Dad are leaving for Italy tomorrow. Benji will get it. He’ll know I need to see them before they leave.”
“Will he?” Lucy’s brows almost touch, and worry worms its way into my heart. “Rae, I know you want to have a relationship with Mom and Dad, but look at the writing on the wall. Look at what they did to me. To Sawyer. To you. They’ve been trying to corner you into taking over the company even though you’ve told them time and time again that you don’t want to do that. They don’t respect you or your ambitions.”
“They’re our parents, Lucy.”
“They’re people. Just like you, and me, and Sawyer.” She pauses, letting out a sigh. “And Benji.”
I know she’s right. I know it’ll hurt Benji to miss the party. I know I’m choosing my parents over him, but what choice do I have?
Benji has been able to reconnect with his own father. He’s started mending that relationship, and his father is welcoming him with open arms. Don’t I deserve that chance, too? Shouldn’t Lucy and Sawyer get the opportunity to build a bridge as well?
“He’ll understand,” I whisper.
Lucy stares at me for a moment and finally nods. “Okay. If you say so.”
“I have no choice,” I say. “I have to go and talk to them before they leave.”
Lucy’s eyes fill with sadness. “There’s always a choice, Rae.”
Her throat bobs as she swallows. Roman runs up behind her, and she paints a smile on her face before picking him up.
I’m broken. Torn. Ripped in a million different directions.
I know my parents hurt her. They threw her out and never looked back. They did the same to Sawyer.
Why can’t I let go? Why can I not reconcile those facts
