My chest constricted as the scene played out in my imagination. “He took her to the hospital?”
“They didn’t want him to, but Ben did it anyway.” Darkness flitted over her features. “Dad blames the doctors.”
Of course, he did. Allen and my father stirred each other up with their conspiracies. Allen knew that my dad was taking it too far, and he didn’t care. None of them had.
“How is Ben doing now?” Guilt for how I’d pushed Ben away when he’d first appeared at the cabin ate at me. He’d learned to stand up to his parents and Allen at too high a cost.
Addie adjusted her silverware yet again. “A little better, I think. But he blames himself for not taking her sooner.”
That kind of weight could drown a man. “He’ll have to find a way to release some of it.”
“Have you?”
I picked up my water glass and took a sip before setting it down. “I’m trying. That’s part of why I’m here. To finally make peace with it all. To try and let it go.”
“You’ve seen the Eastons?”
“They’re…amazing. It’s so different from how we grew up. The way they help and support each other.”
Addie’s gaze drifted out the window. “You and I helped and supported each other.”
I reached out and laid a hand over hers. Addie jolted, but I didn’t let her hand go. “We did. And I want that again. You’re another reason I came back. I missed you so damn much.”
“Pebble for the swear jar.”
Her words startled a laugh out of me. My mother had been appalled when Ian had picked up some foul language, and that had trickled down to me. The first time I’d said the word shit, she’d dropped a glass of lemonade, shattering it on the floor. Mom had instantly instituted a swear jar. Every time we messed up, we had to get a piece of gravel or small rock from outside and place it in the jar, along with doing an extra chore. When the jar filled to the top, Ian and I would have to do some monumental task that neither of us wanted to do. I was forever having to pick up a pebble.
“I’m afraid the jar never really did its job.”
Addie’s mouth curved. “I can tell.” She was quiet for a moment. “You work at the vet’s office?”
The curiosity in her tone only lit more anger at my uncle, but I kept my voice even. “Yeah. I went to college first, but then I did an accelerated vet tech program.”
“You always did want to work with animals. And now, you are.”
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“I’m still going to build the sanctuary. I’m doing it on Mom’s land. You could help, Addie. Come live with me. We could do it together.”
Her eyes widened. “I-I can’t. You know that, Evie.”
“You’re twenty-four, Addie. You can leave. There’s nothing he can do to stop you.”
“It’s not that simple. I have nothing. No one.”
“You have me.”
A war of emotions played over Addie’s expression. “But who knows when you’ll leave again. Just like everyone else.” She pushed jerkily to her feet. “This was a bad idea. I need to go.”
“Addie, wait—”
“I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
20
Hayes
My feet hit the dirt with more force than necessary, but I welcomed the jar to my bones. That little bite of pain, along with the burn in my lungs, was my release. One I’d needed after the longest week in history.