She let out an exasperated sigh. “You know I love you. The kind of love that means I’d do anything for you.”
“But?”
“But you have taken what happened completely on your shoulders.”
My gaze drifted away from my baby sister towards where they’d be setting up the fairgrounds any day now. “I was supposed to be watching her.”
“You were watching her. You turned your back for a few minutes to play a game.”
“And because of that, Shiloh will never be the same.”
“Bubby…”
At the use of her childhood nickname for me, I looked back to Hadley. “It’s the truth.”
She shook her head. “If it hadn’t happened right then, it would’ve been some other time when someone else had their back turned. He was a sick man, and he was obsessed.”
“But it wasn’t some other time. It was when I was supposed to be watching her.”
Hadley gripped my arm. “You have to figure out a way to let this go. You’re letting it eat away at you. It’s not your fault, and it’s certainly not Everly’s.”
I let out a groan. I knew it wasn’t her fault, but Everly was a reminder. Not just to Shiloh and my parents but also to me. If I’d been paying more attention, all of this heartache and pain could’ve been avoided. Everly was a reminder of my greatest failure. One I’d been working to make up for ever since.
“I know she’s not to blame.”
Hadley arched a brow. “Does she know you feel that way?”
Uneasiness slid through my gut. Everly had known she would have to face a family that hated her, but me piling things on had likely been a surprise blow. “I’ll make it right.”
The corners of Hadley’s mouth tipped up. “I know you will, Bubby. You always do.”
I scowled at her. “Stop calling me that.”
“But I love the way it makes your eye twitch.”
I wrapped an arm around her neck, bringing Hadley in for a noogie. “What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were on duty today.”
She shoved at my chest, extricating herself from my hold. “Another EMT asked to switch shifts. So, I’m using my free afternoon to fix my leaky faucet. Aren’t you proud?”
“Why didn’t you call me? You know I would’ve come over and fixed it.”
Hadley rolled her eyes. “You know I am capable of doing things on my own, right?”
“You’ve made that clear.” A little too clear. Hadley was always running off on some new daring adventure. Hiking a range of the Pacific Crest Trail, completely alone. Rock climbing. Trekking Machu Picchu. Riding her bike down mountains. She’d almost given our mother a heart attack more times than I could count.
She stuck her tongue out at me. “Take a breath, brother dearest, it’s not the end of the world to have a sister who can take care of herself.”
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m proud of you. You know that, right?”
“Doesn’t hurt to hear you say it.”
“I am. The work you do. The person you are. I’m damn lucky you’re my baby sister.”
She pinched my side. “You make me cry in public, and I’ll put your hand in warm water the next time you fall asleep on the couch after family dinner.”
And she would, too. I gave Hadley a quick kiss on the head and released her. “Try not to get into too much trouble.”
“I’ll do my best.”