Page 84 of Forbidden Flame

“Have you talked to Mom and Dad lately?” Charlotte asked when I dropped the suitcases on the floor of her room.

I ran a hand through my hair, not remembering the last time I spoke to them. “Actually, no. How are things?”

Charlotte sat on the edge of the bed. “When I call, Mom makes it sound like everything is great, and we both know it’s not.”

“I’m sorry I left you in that situation.”

Charlotte’s brows knitted. “What are you talking about?”

“I escaped here, and there was no work for you, so you always stayed home.”

Charlotte picked at the quilt on the bed. “I never thought about it like that. I was younger and wanted to be home with Mom.”

“I left you to deal with Dad’s addiction.”

Charlotte frowned. “I could avoid him for the most part.”

He was a mechanic and good at his job. So I think they put up with the stench of ever-present alcohol coming off his skin. And he’d never gotten physical with us. He just wasn’t there for us in a meaningful way. Mom pretended that everything was fine. That might have been the thing that bothered me the most.

“I hate that you had to do that. I should have shielded you from the worst of it.”

“You couldn’t have been there all the time. You were a teenager. I don’t blame you. It’s his fault.”

“Do you go there often to visit?” I couldn’t help but ask.

Charlotte shook her head. “I usually meet Mom for lunch, or we talk on the phone.”

“Do you ever talk to her about getting him help?”

“She just shuts down. She doesn’t want to hear it. I think she feels like he’s made it this far. What can you do?”

“He has to be the one to make the change. And if he couldn’t do it for us, then what would be the catalyst?” That was what hurt the most. We weren’t important enough for him to fight his addiction and be present in our lives.

There were kids without a dad, but having one that didn’t show up to after-school activities was almost worse. I felt like everyone knew what was going on in our house and was judging us.

“I just want you to be okay. You need anything?”

Charlotte smiled. “I’m fine. I have a feeling this is going to be a good move for me.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “Moving into our cousin’s house is a good move?”

“I really like this place. I’m excited to catch up with family. I want to be around good people.”

I shifted on my feet, letting my hands drop to my sides. “Did something happen? Do you need help?”

Charlotte chuckled. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

That didn’t make me feel better, but it wasn’t in our nature to dig into each other’s life. I wouldn’t start now. “I’m going to whip something up for dinner.”

“I can help. Just let me wash up.”

I headed downstairs, shooting off a text to Daphne to let her know that my sister was staying with me for a while. I hated that we didn’t have a place where we could spend time together anymore.

She sent me a video of Izzy riding her bike with the caption, She’s ready for the training wheels to come off.

Pride swept through me. I couldn’t wait to take those wheels off to see what she could do.

“Who’s that?” Charlotte said from my side.

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