“Oh,” Lena said, “and I remember meeting you at a family dinner roughly twenty years ago. It’s all right if you don’t remember.”
“I don’t, but Van did tell me about your history with Logan Butler.”
She waved her hand. “That was the other thing. Now we have all the awkward out of the way.”
Van’s hand came to the small of my back and his warmth at my side. “What brings you all the way to Ashland?”
“Since Phillip has been MIA, I came to Wisconsin to speak with attorneys who have agreed to represent Madison. Hopefully I’ll be able to visit her.”
“Have you spoken to her? Has she told you or anyone anything?” I asked.
“Not even a phone call. I’m still fighting to get through. Before she was admitted to the facility in Texas, Phillip had her evaluated. The doctors determined that she needed to be committed. After that, he installed a conservatorship with him named as essentially her guardian.”
“Guardian?” I questioned. “She’s not a child.”
“I don’t understand how she was able to get herself released from the first institution,” Van said.
“Legally, it was up to the doctors. She must have convinced them that she was no longer a threat to herself or anyone else.” Lena shook her head. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can. I’ve been neglectful, and I hope it’s not too late to change that.”
“Do you have a good legal team?” Van asked.
Lena nodded. “Best a fortune can buy.” Her painted lips came together in a straight line. “I have to try to help her.”
“Do you think she’s stable?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Based on the events of the last few weeks, I’d say no. However, my opinion doesn’t count—only the doctors’. When our parents were alive, I was always the big sister, the one to look out for Madison. I’ve failed, and now it’s time for me to do what I can. I’ve been told in similar cases, where a crime is committed, the DA will push to have her deemed fit. If that’s the case, she’ll stand trial. If she isn’t found fit, she could be committed forever. There’s no good solution. I just want to help my sister.” She grinned. “Maybe that was our last awkward discussion.”
“It’s not awkward,” I said. Unlike the topic of Lena and Van’s past sex life. “I want Madison to get the help she needs.”
Lena smiled at Van. “You’re right, you don’t deserve her.”
“I don’t.”
“Would you like some wine?” I asked, stepping away from Van and toward the kitchen.
“I’ve been driving for hours,” Lena said. “How about something stronger?”
Do we have anything stronger?
Van was the one to respond. “Come in the kitchen and name your poison.” He turned, his expression befuddled. “Sorry, poor choice of words.”
A few minutes later Lena had a martini, and Van and I had glasses of red wine. The dinner Paula created was warming in the oven, and the three of us were sitting at the kitchen table. Perhaps it was because my first meeting with Liv had gone poorly or due to my own insecurities, but sitting in what was now my home, Van at my side, with Madison’s sister—who was also his ex-lover and Brooklyn’s aunt—was more pleasant than I could have ever imagined.
I found myself enjoying our conversation.
While Lena’s forward attack of bringing up all questionable subjects at once was a bit overwhelming, the final result was refreshing. Until…
Van leaned back in his chair. “I’m pleased we’re all getting along.”
Lena lifted her glass and let it linger at her lips.
“What the fuck have you done?”
My eyes grew wide as I looked from one to the other. “Van…”
Lena set her glass on the table. “There is a good reason.”
“I’m listening,” he replied.