Page 45 of Beacon

“Nah.” It’s all I say, and she lets out a pouty but cute little huff, disturbing Otis, who chuffs back at her.

“I was thinking you’d take me to Daimen and Arden’s lake house, but this is the opposite direction,” she surmises as we leave the city traveling westbound.

“Good deduction skills, Rosso, but I’m still not telling you. I’ll say we’ll be in the car for about another two and a half hours.”

We’re an hour out of the city, and I can imagine her brain is recalling geography of the state. “That gets us close to the Iowa border, if not over it,” she says, and I simply nod. “I think we’re being kidnapped, Otis.”

“If I’m kidnapping you, you sure came willingly, Rosso.” My hand moves up her thigh, and Otis notices and chuffs at me.

“Otis, stop.” My demand has him turning around toward Sandra, but he doesn’t chuff.

“You two have come to an understanding, haven’t you?” she asks.

“Somewhat,” I answer, and moving a hand closer to Otis, I start petting him, and instead of chuffing at me, he rolls over on his back.

“Well, this is something,” she begins, scratching his chin, and he starts to purr, almost like a cat.

“Tell me something about yourself you’ve never shared with another person. And I know I’ve asked this before, but there has got to be more.”

She lets out a little ha-ha sort of chuckle. “You’ve obviously never had a twin before. You have to understand, she’s the other half of me, and though we don’t look alike, we don’t exist without the other.”

This I know. I’d seen the way she reacted when her sister was hurt the weekend I met her. “I know.”

She’s quiet at the memory. “Yeah, I’m just as protective of her as she is of me. She set me up with Curtis because she was done giving you a chance.”

“I’m not surprised. I was sort of done with me for letting you go, and I won’t make that fucking mistake again.” I pause and look over at her, and she’s smiling. “So, got anything else?” I ask.

“The day my mom died, she called me in by myself. She had so much guilt about leaving Cami before having her first baby. She was absolutely broken, knowing she’d be on earth an hour or two, but no more.”

Sandra’s voice cracks at the mention of losing her mother, but I wait for her to continue, moving my arm down her thigh, giving it a squeeze.

“She was in hospice at this point, and I had to maneuver and almost lie to my sister as to why I was talking to Mom on my own. I was thirty-four. I’d shown no sign of settling down—not for the lack of trying, but all my guys had been assholes. She heldmy hand and asked me to help Cami. To be the grandma to those girls that she couldn’t be. That meant doing the things my mom would do, but also Auntie San San would do. I promised her that Maggie and any other child Cami had would know all about our mom, and I’d do everything possible for my sister.”

It’s a lot to put on one person, I think to myself.

“I’ve tried to be the sister and daughter she’d be proud of, Dom. I don’t know if I’ve done enough but I’ve tried.”

My hand runs up her arm. “Baby, I’ve seen you with those girls. Not as much as I’ll see in the future, but you light up with the sound of their names. You are everything your mother asked of you. And you’re the first one there for Cami; I’ve seen it and it won’t ever change.”

Out of the corner of my eye, a tear rolls down her cheek but before I can do anything, she rights herself and turns toward me.

“Tell me something you’ve never told another person before.”

“I may not have a twin, but I have two best friends. I grew up with Garner, and I went to college with Bodhi. So, between those two, on top of my brother and sister, someone knows just about everything.”

“Okay, think on it then, and tell me a little bit more about Bodhi.”

“He’s divorced and has the sweetest little boy named Declan. I’m Dec’s godfather. And, unfortunately, Bodhi isn’t over his ex-wife.”

“That’s tough. Was it mutual?”

“No, it certainly wasn’t.” I leave it at that, and she doesn’t pressure me. “Anyway, he’s navigating life as he sees her start dating again. It’s been hard, especially when he loves her as much as he did the day they married.”

“Yeah, that’s hard. Bodhi’s ex-wife is Clara, and she’s dating Jack Calypso, right?”

“Oh, I forgot you know Jack through Cami and Dane.”

“He’s a great guy, and I hope he finds happiness.”

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