Page 7 of Forbidden Desire

“What’s it going to take to get you to be part of our family?” My eyes fluttered open. “Des is in trouble, Rochelle, and I need you... Mum needs you.”

“To do what?” Her voice was monotonic, but her gaze darted to me with a trace of concern—the first and only sign she cared.

“To be there.” I turned toward her small, grubby window. “When I’m not.”

“Where are you going?” She was on her feet behind me. “Is this some sort of mass exodus?”

“Maybe you didn’t hear me.” Or more like, she just wasn’t listening. “Desiree is missing... actually fucking missing, Rochelle. She could be dead, for all I know.”

Her blank expression slid past me. “So, what, you’re going to repatriate her?”

“Is that all you can say?” I balked at her dismissive tone. “She’s our sister!”

“She’s never been there for me. None of you have.”

“Oh, yeah,” I mocked. “I forgot this is the Rochelle show. Poor little Rochelle, her life has been so tough. Poor little baby. She never got all the things she wanted.”

“Fuck you!” She advanced on me, her features screwed into an ugly ball. “You never gave a shit about me. Where were you when Ethan left? Where were any of you?”

“This isn’t about you, Rochelle.” I could scarcely contain my disgust at her self-indulged attitude. “Can’t you see that? I’m going away to some shitty little island to find our sister, and I need you to watch out for Mum. She’s not well.”

That made her stop in her tracks. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s not been herself since Dad, you know that.” My shoulders fell as a dozen horrid memories whipped through my mind. “She’s not eating properly and is easily confused. Desiree is the icing on the cake. She’s not coping, Roch, and I don’t know what else I can do.” Emotion bubbled in my voice as I struggled to contain the nightmare of the last few weeks. “Listen, I know we’ve had our differences,”—that was putting it mildly—“but I’m asking you this one time. Please check on her while I’m away.”

Rochelle blew out a breath. “How long will you be gone?”

That was the most hopeful comment I’d heard so far.

“I really don’t know, at least a week, maybe longer. Please, Rochelle.” I stepped in her direction. “I’ll be honest, it’s not looking good for Des, and I can’t cope with my whole family falling apart in one month.”

“Okay.” Her brow creased. “I get it.”

“So, you’ll help with Mum?” Relief tingled in my solar plexus. Knowing Rochelle would be around would make my trip a hell of a lot easier.

“I’ll help.” She sounded resigned. “But this changes nothing. I’m not moving back home or anything.”

“Fine.” My palms rose in a conciliatory manner. “I just appreciate you helping.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, the silence stretching out around us. Once upon a time, we had all been so close, three sisters who swore to be there for each other, no matter what. What had happened to those girls? Where had that innocent laughter and friendship disappeared to? The reality was we had all grown, leaning in different directions and leaving a trail of human wreckage between us.

“When are you leaving?” Rochelle broke the intense quiet.

“Tomorrow.”

The weight of my mission fell over me all over again. I still had to pack and arrange my taxi to the airport, with no idea what awaited me once I got to the wilds of Scotland. All I knew was Desiree was there somewhere, and she needed me. Whatever happened, I couldn’t just leave her. Mum needed her home—we all did.

“Think you can check in on Mum some time then or the next day?”

“Yeah.” She softened, the tension easing from her shoulders as she reached for my arm. “I’ll pop round. That oughta surprise her.”

“Yeah.” I laughed, imagining our mother’s face. “She’ll be thrilled to see you, Rochelle. She’s missed you.” I hesitated, stumbling over the words that rose to my lips. So have I.

“Well,”—she shrugged—“I guess we’ll see. What about you? Do you need any help to get sorted for your trip?”

What was this? Rochelle never offered to help with anything.

“I’m more or less sorted.” That was a complete lie. I’d been winging it for days and had no clue what I’d face once I landed. The rumbling thrum of anxiety in my belly had become near normal. “Thanks for asking.”

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