Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Sis.” I swallow. She doesn’t call me that often. It’s good to hear.
“Are you doing okay?” she asks, and I have to think about how to answer it. I’m not okay. I’m not sure I ever will be again.
“I imagine that I’m just like you. Missing, Mattie.”
That was the wrong thing to say as Thea’s tears start again. I can feel mine stinging my eyes, but I try to hold them in. I can’t allow them to escape … not yet. I can fall apart later.
“I can’t believe he’s gone,” she wails.
I sit up, leaning my back against the headboard, and hold my sister as best I can. “Hey, don’t give up on our big brother that easily. He’s tough as nails. You know that. I won’t believe he’s gone unless we get proof. You know him, Thea. He’ll fight hard. There’s still a chance he can come back to us and be the uncle we all know he’s going to be.”
Thea feebly attempts to laugh through her tears. “You mean he’ll feed the baby chocolate and spoil him or her rotten before sending him back to me?”
“Exactly,” I giggle, wiping a few tears from my face that have managed to escape.
“How’s Mom?”
I sigh. “She’s struggling. I’m glad Dad is headed back. He’ll be able to keep her together. Aunt Carrie is keeping her busy right now.”
“That’s good. I need to go see her again, but I just couldn’t stop crying and that’s not what she needs right now.”
“That’s not true. Mom loves having both of us close to her right now. It reassures her.”
“I’m not like you, Skylar. You’re so strong. I’m a little envious of you at the moment.”
I shake my head, giving her a smile. “I learned it from my big sister. I used to watch you and Mattie and feel so lost.”
“Why on earth would you feel that way?” she asks.
“Because I knew I didn’t measure up. You guys always had a plan and knew exactly what you wanted. Dad doted on you both. I was just jealous. I know it turned me into a bitch sometimes, and I’m sorry.”
“You’re wrong, Skylar. Why on earth would you think you don’t measure up? You’re amazing. I mean, you’re already on your way to being a doctor. Plus, you’ve always been so independent. I envy that. I hate being on my own. That’s how I ended up in the relationship with the serial cheater who shall never have his name spoken in my presence again,” she grumbles, giving me a smile. The smile doesn’t shine on her face, but I give her credit for trying.
“I wish you knew how much I wanted to be like you growing up. You’re so gorgeous, tall, skinny, with skin that looks as if it was kissed by the gods. Mattie looks like an NFL pro athlete with his dark brown hair with natural red-gold highlights and sparking green eyes. You guys both are practically perfect. I’m shorter, fluffier, and when we’re all out together, I’m the oddball. I don’t even look like I belong with you guys.”
“Bullshit. Have you always felt like that, Skylar?”
I nod. “Well, yeah. You and Mattie would always gravitate toward each other. I just annoyed both of you if I was around. Then I’d get my feelings hurt and act bitchy to you guys as a defense. I’ve always been the outsider, Thea. When it comes to you guys and Dad, I just never quite measured up—no matter how hard I tried.”
“I’m so sorry, Skylar. Mattie and I both let you down. You won’t believe this, but we both felt horrible a few years ago when we discovered no one came to your graduation.”
“Mom was there.”
“I should have been there. I think I got so used to avoiding Dom that I just tuned out when Mom talked about it. I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me?”
“It’s fine, Thea.”
“It’s not, and I know Mom has already set Dad’s ears on fire. She made sure Mattie and I were raked over the coals, too.”
“I wish she hadn’t,” I respond with a yawn. Thea and I recline back on the bed and lay on the pillows, staring at one another.
“It wouldn’t have mattered. We were already upset with ourselves. Dad, too. I know he felt horrible. Mom said he cried. In his defense you know he struggles with short term memory at times from the head injury he suffered before he met Mom. It didn’t help that Mom wasn’t there to remind Dad before he left for club business. There’s no way to make it up to you, but I hope you at least know that we all love you and we’re all going to make an increased effort to do better in the future.”
“Right now, I’ll be fine with just having Mattie hug me once more.”