Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Sadie adds a screenshot of a group chat for Mom, Dad, Mark, and herself, and I read the messages they’ve sent each other.
Sadie: Look what you’ve done. Mom’s heart is breaking. I can’t believe you’re doing this.
In short, Mom is telling them I’ve just thrown the biggest tantrum and broke their hearts. I’m made out to be the villain.
Is it even worth pleading my case to my siblings?
Needing to stand up for myself, I create a group chat with Mark and Sadie so I don’t have to repeat anything.
Lillian: The family has a group chat, which doesn’t include me. Are you not seeing how you’ve shoved me out of the family circle? You all have gatherings, and no one thinks to invite me.
No one asks how I am and what’s happening in my life. It’s always about you, your feelings, and what you want.
I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’m standing up for myself, which I should’ve done a long time ago. I’m an individual with my own hopes and dreams. Just because I don’t practice law, it doesn’t make me any less of a person. I wish you could all support my art (which, BTW, none of you have ever seen) instead of constantly belittling it.
Honestly, I won’t put up with this any longer. If you can’t treat me with common decency and take an interest in my life, you’re welcome to disown me. I’m no longer going to beg for scraps of your attention.
Before I can change my mind, I press send on the message. My heart beats out of my chest for a solid minute, and realizing neither of them will read the text anytime soon, I drop the device on my lap and bury my face in my hands.
I can’t do this anymore.
I’m so upset my body trembles, and it takes a while before I’m able to calm down.
Picking up my phone again, I read the text and instantly regret everything I typed. It’s going to explode in my face.
Suddenly, a message comes through from Denise, and I let out a sigh as I open it.
Denise: My party is on September thirtieth. Yay Me!!!
I know it’s a little early, but Charles and I are joining Beverly and John for a couples trip to Paris. We didn’t include you because we know you’re single, and we don’t want you to feel like a fifth wheel. Anyway, I need to get shopping done before the trip, so the party is being held at an earlier date. I hope you can come. EVERYONE will be there, and you don’t want to miss out. RSVP soon. Kisses.
Holy freaking shit. Fifth wheel!
I clearly remember telling Denise I met someone and was bringing a plus one when I spoke with her a few weeks ago.
Have I stepped into some alternate dimension? What’s wrong with everyone?
I reread the message with anger bubbling in my chest, then type out a reply.
Lillian: I’ll attend your party, and I’m bringing a plus one.
Needing a moment to recover from blow after blow, I switch off my phone.
Shaking my head, I whisper, “Seriously? Is it me? Am I the problem?”
Chapter 22
Callan
Sitting in the boardroom with Harper after the department heads have cleared out, we’re discussing my upcoming trip to visit the branches in other states.
I let out a tired sigh. “This trip will take two weeks. Will you be okay running everything while I’m gone?”
Harper rolls her eyes at me. “You ask the same question every year.”
Chuckling, I mutter, “I take it you’ll be okay.”
She relaxes back in her chair, and the expression on her face turns sad and concerned as she mentions, “There’s another anniversary coming up.”
Harper is always cautious around the topic of Dylan’s death, and she’s got good reason. I still get panic attacks from the trauma I suffered when I lost my best friend, but they’ve lessened over the years.
The familiar grief ripples through my heart. “I can’t believe it’s already been six years.”
When Dylan died in a car accident, my entire world imploded. We met in school, and when his parents passed away, he came to live with my family.
He was more than my best friend – he was my brother – the other half of my soul.
He was killed when an intoxicated driver drove head-on into Dylan’s vehicle. I had just spoken to him at work, and the next minute he was gone.
I only found out later that night after I left a dozen messages and missed calls on his phone. It was the darkest time in my life, and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from losing him.
Tapping a finger on the desk, I mutter, “You know the judge is still practicing law?”
“Yep.” Harper shakes her head. “It sucks that Harrison is still sitting on the bench.”
“There was a recent article that Jackson was arrested for domestic abuse,” I tell Harper. Theo Jackson is the fucker who killed Dylan. It’s a name I’ll never forget. “A couple of days later, his wife dropped the charges.”