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Thankfully, Marco is going to suggest they waive jail time if Jacob goes to rehab and does community service, since it’s his first offense and no one else was hurt. There was no property damage other than our truck and the tree. He came to the house as a courtesy, because we’ve known him our whole lives, and he knew I would need a ride to the hospital. One of the only benefits to small-town living.

I haven’t been able to reach Piper. She’s not answering her phone or responding to texts. I didn’t tell her what was going on; I just texted for her to call me when she has a chance. It doesn’t seem like something I should spill out over a text message.

“Finley.” A familiar voice calls my name.

“Mindy.” She’s speed walking across the waiting room. I stand up to greet her, and she wraps me in a hug, smelling like high-priced perfume and home. Her dark-blue blazer is soft under my fingers.

She’s always so put together. By comparison, I am a slob, dressed in leggings and an oversized sweater, my hair pulled back in a messy bun. At least I still have mascara on. I’ve been too shocked to cry.

I lean back, still holding her arms. “Your hair. You changed it.”

She has dark hair like me and Taylor. Now it’s been highlighted and cut in a sleek bob that frames her face.

She fingers a strand. “I did. But tell me about Jacob. How is he? Any updates?”

“He’s going to be okay. They’re doing surgery on his leg because it was broken in the crash.”

She winces and rubs my arm. “Have you heard from the others?”

I sit back down in my chair. “Taylor is on her way from Tennessee. It’s a fourteen-hour drive, so I think she’ll be here by tomorrow, midday. I haven’t been able to reach Piper to explain things, and I didn’t want to leave it on a voicemail or tell her via text.”

She sits next to me. “I can try too. We can tag team her. She’ll have to realize something’s going on then.” She pulls her phone and laptop out of her briefcase.

“Sorry.” She gives me an apologetic look when my gaze lands on her computer. “I shouldn’t have brought it, but I need something else to focus on.”

“I understand.” I’m the same way. Throwing myself into rescuing the struggling family business, working until I can hardly think, stand, or feel. Going and going and going until I’m numb.

And this is the result of that. Right? I’ve spent every day of my life since Aria died working, thinking perhaps if I worked harder, if I fixed the mess at the cottages, it would somehow fix everything else. If I saved the property, I could save everyone, and all the problems would go away. But they’ve only gotten worse.

By working so hard, obsessively attempting to wrangle control of something, I’ve lost control of everything.

But Ican’tcontrol everything. No one can.

Jacob has to want to change and put in the work to make it so. Piper has to want to leave; she has to get out herself or ask for my help. But I can’t make her. Nothing I do or say will change their minds.

And nothing I do will bring Aria back. That’s the crux of it, isn’t it? I can’t control the fact that I wasn’t there when my baby sister needed me most. I wasn’t there to watch out for her. I can’t go back and change the past.

Which means letting go of the things I’ve been holding on to so hard. They’re not supports; they’re weights, tying me down.

“Finley?”

I turn toward Mindy. “What?”

“I asked you a question twice, and you were totally zoned out. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Sorry. Just . . . thinking. It’s been a long day.”

She clucks in sympathy. “I booked a hotel room less than a mile away if you want to go shower, take a nap, or something?”

I shake my head. “I can’t sleep. I’m not going anywhere until we hear more from the doctor. What were you asking?”

“Why didn’t you tell me Jacob’s drinking had gotten this bad?”

I bite my lip. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Finley.” She reaches over, putting a hand on my arm. “You can’t do everything alone. Let me help you.”

“I don’t want to—”


Tags: Mary Frame Romance