Page 37 of Catch My Fall

I can tell how much she wants this, needs it. Her recovery was never going to be easy, but maybe I could help ease it.

“I have a place,” I say. “You’re more than welcome to go there and take a time out.”

Her eyes light up. “Really, where?”

“On the coast of Maine. It’s about nine miles out of Brunswick. It was my parents’ place, but now it’s mine. It’s next to the water, enclosed by trees. There’s not a neighbour for nearly a mile. We could go there and you could use it to relax… heal.”

Something flashes in her gaze. “We?”

“Yeah, we. You didn’t think you’d be going alone, did you?”

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “You’d really take me there?”

“In a heartbeat, if it’s what you want?”

“Yes. It’s what I want. How long does it take to get there?”

“Eight or nine hours by road depending on traffic,” I reply.

“Could we maybe go tonight? We could take turns driving if it gets tiring or pull into a motel?”

“Yeah, we can go tonight, but you realise your brother isn’t going to be happy about you leaving,” I point out.

“Let me handle my brother. Go pack a bag. Meet you out front in an hour?”

I rise to my feet. “Yes, Ma’am.”

“Hey, Alec?” she calls after me as I grip the door handle.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.” Her smile has my heart skipping a beat. She hasn’t had much reason to smile of late, but it warms me to know I’m one of the few that get to see it.

“You’re welcome, princess.” I wink before leaving her room.

As I make my way to my house, I pull out my phone, bringing up a number that’s not been used in so long, noting the message that’s been there for years, the one I’ve left unanswered.

I begin typing.

Me: Hi, it’s Alec. I’m going to be in the area over the next few weeks or so. I’ll be staying at the house. It would be nice to see you.

Taking a deep breath, I hit send and pocket my phone. If I’m going back to where I spent a large proportion of my childhood, I guess it’s a good excuse to right some wrongs. If Sierra’s hope is to heal her wounds while we’re there, then I suppose I should to.

15

“You’re what?” Gage blinks, trying to process what I’ve just told him.

“You’re leaving?” Della asks, sadness filling her eyes, looking to Ree for support.

I wanted to tell them all together, so once I’d packed my suitcase I told them all to meet me in the living room.

I knew breaking the news of my sudden departure would come as a shock, but Gage has to understand that I need this—my breakdown earlier proved as much. It was the moment I realised I couldn’t carry on like I have been and that things needed to change.

I need to get away and try to heal my open wounds, but it’s not the ones on my body that I’m worried about. It’s the ones on the inside, the ones scorched in my soul and imprinted on my mind.

My talk with Alec is something I didn’t realise I needed, and talking about my feelings actually felt pretty good. Maybe there’s something to this talking thing after all.

“I need a break, Gage. I need space. Away from this house, hell away from this city.”

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