Page 61 of When I Had You

“What do you mean he left? Weren’t you at his place?”

“Yes,” I reply, suddenly feeling as lost on what happened as she is. Why did he freaking leave without telling me where he was going? Or if he’ll even return.

“He dick-and-dashed from his own place? That’s a twist I didn’t see coming.”

I’m more astonished than she sounds because I lived it. I’m still in a state of awe and wonderment over last night. “Seems so. Also, please never use that phrase again. Ew.” The car pulls in front of my brother’s townhome. “I need to go. I have to sneak back into my family’s place like I did as a teenager.”

“That sounds fun. Good luck and I’ll pick you up from the airport this evening. I’m thinking wings?”

“You sure do think about food. That’s right. You’re a chef.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty much all I think about. Have fun. Safe travels.”

I step onto the curb and carefully walk up the stairs. I don’t know why I’m sneaking around outside, so I snap out of it and punch the code in like the adult I am. When I step into the secure lobby, I key in the password before entering through the front door into the airy foyer. It’s a beautiful home, restored and renovated over a two-year period. I wasn’t surprised when it was featured in Décor Digest.

My phone pings in my hand before I have a chance to take one step up the stairs. “Hello?” I hear my sister-in-law’s voice coming from a darker part of the house.

“Hi,” I reply, tracking her from where I think the greeting came from—the kitchen. I enter to find a small lamp glowing from the corner counter and her sitting at a built-in desk in front of a laptop. “You’re up early.”

She moves her glasses to her head. Lark is effortlessly beautiful, and her soul reflects the same. An accomplished doctor and mom of two, she’s always busy. Though I have a feeling my brother also keeps her on her toes. They’re an enviable match and a nice balance to each other. I could only dream of meeting someone who fills in the holes that life has left. That completeness must be what contentment feels like. I can only imagine.

“Are you working?”

Dragging her hair over her shoulder, she says, “Catching up on work, and I like to be up and awake when the kids get up. We have about ten minutes before the chaos begins.” She angles on the side of the chair to face me. “How are you?”

Although I appreciate that she doesn’t show any signs of having an opinion on my early morning arrival, I reply, “I’m sorry for coming in at this hour.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Marina, or explain. Though I’m glad that Harbor left this morning, or you might be bombarded with endless questions.” She laughs softly. “No matter your age, you’ll always be his little sister.”

“He’s always been a good big brother. He left early. Where is he off to?”

Swiveling back toward the screen when the laptop pings, she says, “The South of France. Harbor, Cash, Duncan, and a few others took the plane just after five this morning.”

“Cash?” Her gaze darts back to me, causing me to shift. “I don’t know why I said that. I meant—”

“It’s okay.” She smiles, pulling her glasses back over her eyes. “I know what you meant.” No judgment. No conviction. Just letting me off the hook as if I didn’t just royally stick my foot in my mouth. “Will I see you later, or are you flying back to Vancouver?”

“I’m flying out today. I’ll be back in the city in two weeks, though, for the premiere.”

“That’s fun. Are you looking forward to it?”

I shrug, unsure about a lot of things these days. The film not so much, but the men in my life, I’m lost on what to think or feel. Well, not Corbin. He’s awful, but Cash has my head spinning with this new information. “Are they racing in France?”

“Yes. They always fly out early to acclimate to the time change, rest, and prepare. All the stuff they need to do before the qualifier next weekend.”

It’s hard to stay mad at him when work calls, but couldn’t he have told me? At least as a courtesy? Especially after last night.

The sun’s broken free from the clouds and shining in through the windows. “I’m going to get a nap in and pack before I head off.”

“Hey, Marina?” I stop before I reach the hallway and turn back. Lark smiles, easing her shoulders into a gentle slope forward. “They can ban you from the track but not from living your life. I don’t think you did anything wrong. I do think you need to hone your sneaking skills again. They’re a little rusty.”

My heart beats a bit faster. Is she saying what I think she is? Does she know? I don’t want to give anything away if she doesn’t. “Good advice.”

“It was good seeing you again. We’ve missed you. The kids have, too.”

“It’s been nice to see everyone these past few trips.”

“The door is always open. You’re welcome to stay here for the premiere if you’d like.”

---