Page 99 of You're the Reason

Her pulse picked up. She focused back on her reflection, only now it was half covered in stage makeup and half a swirl of black and brown smudges. “Did he give his name?”

“No. But he said he was from your hometown.”

She swallowed and scrubbed faster as she did her best to keep her breath even. As soon as she was smudge free, she stood and turned back to the usher. “Thank you, could you please show him in?”

Why was she standing? Did that look weird? She sat at the table again. But she didn’t want to stare up at him. She stood once more, closed her eyes, and drew a slow breath.

Who knew why he was here? Maybe he had just been in the area.

But he had come. It had to mean something.

The door clicked, and she opened her eyes as Gabe stepped around the doorframe. Her shoulders deflated, and she gripped the chair to steady herself.

“Am I not the face from Heritage you were hoping for?” Gabe stepped forward and presented her with a rose and a fat manila envelope. Dark circles weighed under his eyes, his face pale and clammy. Was he ill? He pointed to the envelope. “Those are from your students.”

Her students. She couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she peeled back the tab. Crammed inside were a dozen homemade cards made mostly out of construction paper and yarn.

She set the envelope on her dressing table and turned back to her brother. His hands were shaking slightly. He leaned against the door, his gaze hesitant.

“Why didn’t you just tell him you were my brother?”

“I wasn’t sure you’d let me back here.” He wiped his hand across his forehead and then on his pants.

“Because you set up Seth or because you’re obviously in desperate need of a fix.” She stepped back toward her chair and set to removing more of her makeup. “Are you here to ask for money?”

“I’m not...” He blew out a long breath. “I’m trying to quit. Three days clean—wow me.”

She met his gaze in the mirror. Was he really trying to get sober? She hated to assume he was lying, but she’d heard this song and dance before. “Then what do you want?”

He stared at the floor a moment then back at her. “He said you might actually care what happened to me, so I thought I’d tell you?—”

“Who said that?” She paused her scrubbing and met his gaze in the mirror again.

“Seth.”

She spun back toward her brother. “You talked to him? How is he?”

“Stubborn.” He offered a half shrug. “But good. He’s helping me get clean.”

“How?”

“That’s another reason I came.” He glanced back at the door and then at her. “I’m going away for a while.”

“To Quinn Ranch?”

“I might land there eventually, but I need to go through basic rehab. A detox.” He held up his shaking hand as evidence. “Nate and Seth helped me find a program here in Chicago. Nate’s out there waiting. He’s taking me there after this. Guess they didn’t trust me to not give in before I got to the door.”

Her gaze trailed to the open door. They?

“Seth isn’t with me.” Her brother obviously read her like a book. “He helped me get connected with Nate, but he had to work today.”

Had to work or had to stay away from her?

Her brother nudged her shoulder. “He’s an idiot, you know.”

“It doesn’t matter. Seems like I was made for this.” Grace stood, spread out her arms, and motioned to the space around her as she made a little turn.

“That’s nonsense, and you know it.”

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