Page 79 of Fate Will Bring You Home

She nudged my arm. "You really like it here, huh?"

"I do Bean. I really do. I love that I found them and that they accepted me so easily. That could have gone differently. The people in this town are great. It’s like one of those hallmark movies we watch at Christmas where everyone knows everyone."

She laughed. "Yeah, it could have gone pretty bad, huh? I'm glad it went in your favor. They are lovely."

She looked like she thought about something sad, and her smile dropped a little. "Let's go out tonight. I want to sing and dance around with you."

I looked at Brie like she had five heads.

"What? I want to do something fun." She looked confused at why I was looking at her that way.

I chuckled. "Who are you, and what have you done with Brielle? You never want to go anywhere, let alone out to dance. I’ve tried to get you to go out with me a million times; plus, there will be alcohol there."

"I never said I wanted to drink Aubrey. You know I don't do that. I want to have fun with my sister. Plus, they won't serve me anyway. I'm too young."

"You know that’s not what I meant. What if—" She cut me off and gave me an annoyed look.

She rolled her eyes. "Aubrey, I'll be fine. You will be there."

"Yeah, but—"

She cut me off and grabbed my hands. "Aubrey…Let's just do something different. Well, maybe not for you, but for me it will be different."

I wasn't sure what to say. I never want to hurt my sister or put her in an environment that she will be uncomfortable in, and a bar with alcohol could turn into exactly that for her.

Brielle was sexually assaulted while drunk at a party when she was sixteen. She hasn't had a drink since. That party is the reason Brie became introverted. She won't admit that, but I know it was. I almost lost her when she was eighteen when she tried and failed thank God, at taking her own life.

"Okay, let's do it, but not tonight. I wanted to take you to Dan's tonight. He has some rare books that I wanted you to see. We can go out one day this week, and then we can do some dancing and karaoke?"

“Yes please!”

I worked on the song I had started earlier this morning when we got back to the house. The lyrics were pouring out of me again.

Brielle cooked dinner to thank them for letting her stay here with me. She made us one of the dishes she learned to make from a college friend. It was an intricate meal, chicken stuffed with ham and cheese. I don't know what it's called, but I know it's delicious.

Pops, Liza, Brie, and I were eating, and I heard a rough clearing of the throat. Lincoln walked in. I motioned over to the stove. "Hey, there's some food over there if you want it."

He looked at me with a weird grin. "Always taking care of me, Songbird."

I shrugged. “Just trying to be nice."

Everyone else at the table was giving me weird looks.

He sat down beside Brie, and she gave him the stink eye. I smacked her arm and she shrugged. I heard Pops chuckle, so I know he saw it.

I asked Lincoln if Brie could help with anything at the play. I saw a hopeful glint in his eye, but it was quick. I wouldn't have seen it if I wasn't already looking at him.

“She is really good at art, so maybe the sets could use her help.” I suggested.

“Yeah, that’s definitely a good idea,” Lincoln said.

I smiled and went back to the conversation I was having with Pops. I could feel Lincoln’s eyes on me the whole time…I didn’t know whether it gave me comfort or if I hated it.

On Monday, Brie and I showed up to help with the play and I immediately started working with some students who would be singing solos and even some of the chorus kids because they were taking on the opening song, Seasons of Love.

After about an hour, I checked on Brie, and she looked like she was in her element. I haven’t seen her smile like that in a long time. I haven't seen Brie paint in what feels like forever. She was even teaching some of the students how to draw. Some of them weren't even in the play; they were just there for work-study to get credit for graduation.

I was taking a break sitting in the audience, watching Lincoln work. You could tell he was really in his element up there. He really loves this place. I could never take him away from this. If things ever got serious I couldn't hurt him by asking him to come to Connecticut. I was starting to think our breakup was a good thing.

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