Roman laughed, obviously reading Rick and knowing things between the brothers were fine once more. “I need to do some errands in town before Charlotte and I head back to D.C. tomorrow. Finish your soda, take your aspirin, and I’ll drop you off at home.”
Rick picked up the glass and polished off the entire drink in almost one gulp. “That’s better.” He stepped toward the front door when realization bypassed the mugginess in his brain. “We need to tell Chase about Mom.”
Together Roman and Charlotte winced. Rick understood. When his oldest brother discovered the extent of their mother’s games, things wouldn’t be pretty. He wasn’t thrilled himself, but exhaustion, body aches, and other hangover-related ailments prevented him from focusing too much on Raina’s antics. Besides, if he was capable of concerning himself with anything at this particular moment, it would be Kendall.
Twenty minutes later, feeling just as crappy as when he awoke, Rick climbed out of Roman’s car and headed around the side of the building to his apartment.
To his surprise, when he arrived he had a visitor waiting. Hannah sat, head bent, her hair hanging over her face. He paused on the step below her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned that she’d show up out of the blue and wait for him to come home.
She raised a tear-stained face to his, pain etched in her expression. “Kendall’s going to sell the house and leave town.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
Rick hadn’t realized he was still holding out any real hope for a future with Kendall until he heard the finality in Hannah’s tone. And though the heartache was great, her words weren’t a surprise. Instead of shock, he felt let down instead. Disappointed in Kendall and her decision not to stay and fight her demons, not to fight for them.
Rick had spent last night drowning his emotions and this morning learning about his family situation. He hadn’t dealt with anything yet, but it could wait. Right now Hannah needed him more. He knelt beside the young girl, wishing he could offer comfort when he knew there was none to be had.
Not for Hannah and not for him. After wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her close. “Your sister loves you, you know.”
“Yeah right.” She snorted in his ear and ended with a sniffle.
Despite his disappointment in Kendall, Rick knew it was in Hannah’s best interest that he put a positive spin on a hopeless situation. Normally Rick didn’t give up without a fight but Kendall had left him with no alternative. He’d done his best to show her the life they could have together. She was the one walking away. And though he thought he’d been preparing for this moment since Kendall’s arrival, the burning in his gut told him he was wrong.
Regardless of how she felt about him, Rick was certain Kendall did adore her sister. But before he could begin to make Hannah see the truth, he needed to know what Kendall planned. “Well, where did your sister say you’d be going when she takes off?” His stomach churned as he used words that put an end to their time in Yorkshire Falls.
Hannah sighed. “Kendall said she’d take me with her but I don’t want to go anywhere.” Her voice trailed off in a long sigh.
Clearly she wanted more than Kendall was willing to give. Join the club, Rick thought silently. But knowing Kendall was doing right by Hannah filled Rick with relief and eased the vise gripping his heart. If Kendall was giving up her solitary roaming, then she’d begun to face her fear of commitment and stability. She was fighting harder than he’d given her credit for, but he didn’t delude himself into thinking she’d take that next step and do right by herself. At least she’d opened her heart and her life to her sister at the moment the young girl needed her most. That counted for a lot in Rick’s book.
He glanced at Hannah out of the corner of his eye. “You know your sister’s way of thinking. She doesn’t know anything other than a transient kind of life. For her even to take you with her is a huge leap. You need to go. To bond with her. Get to understand her.”
He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to make a bleak situation look great to a teenager. “Besides, I hear Arizona has amazing weather, no humidity, and you’ll be able to learn horseback riding,” he said, figuring Kendall planned to head west as she’d told him a while back. He put his hand beneath her chin. “Look at me.”
She glanced up but instead of excitement he saw desperation in her young eyes. “You have to try and stop her,” she said, pleading with no shame.
He’d grown to love Hannah like he loved his own family and he’d do anything for this kid. Anything he could, Rick amended. Unfortunately that excluded what she wanted from him most of all. “I can’t.”
She blinked and turned away, that mutinous, stubborn tilt to her chin returning. “Because you don’t care if we stay or go either.” Her stubborn bravado faltered when her voice caught on her words.
“Untrue and you know it.” He still held her tight, no matter that she tried to pull away and put distance between them. She obviously wanted to blame him, force him to share the brunt of her anger.
“Then why won’t you help me get Kendall to stay?” Because Rick refused to shoulder the burden for Kendall’s impulsive actions. She obviously wasn’t facing her feelings and Rick wouldn’t be the one to make her life any easier. She didn’t deserve it. If her pint-sized, hellion sister wanted to torture her a little, maybe she’d be forced to take a good look at her decisions and their
