Page 28 of Free to Fall

Exactly twenty minutes later, after being dropped off in the driveway of the charming Craftsman the three of us bought by pooling our money together after we each graduated college and came into part of our inheritances, something uncoils inside me that’s been wound tightly. “It’s good to be home.”

All the months I stayed at my parents, I needed their constant comfort. But being back in my own home is another reminder that I survived the massacre set in motion by the Tiberis.

As I approach the front door, I admire the landscaping. Grace’s hard work from last summer has paid off as bright orange dragon lilies form a graceful arc amid the other impatiens and annuals dotting our front yard. Kalie and I leave that in our cousin’s very capable hands.

The both of us willingly admit we’re lucky we don’t kill the Christmas amaryllis Uncle Phil sends to each of his nieces and nephews every year. One year, I somehow managed to turn the bright red leaves a sickly yellow color. “Still uncertain about how I did that.” But the memory of it causes my lips to lift in a real grin as I jog up our flagstone steps.

Our home is gorgeous—easily comparable to the homes we lived in growing up. Like I said to Liam, I don’t need his money. What he may or may not know is I have my own. What only my family would realize is that even if I was eating Ramen noodles, I still wouldn’t take a damn dime from someone who was injured during the shooting if they needed help. Sure having money is nice, but it’s nothing in comparison to everything else I’ve been blessed with—a second chance to right the wrongs I made that night.

Truth be told, everyone in my family feels that way. If all our wealth were stripped away tomorrow and all we had to show for our lives was the interwoven connections of love, a set of clothes on our backs, and our varying amaryllis tattoos, we’d be richer than Croesus.

Reaching the top, I find Kalie leaning against the door jamb with a tall glass in her hands. “Are you talking to yourself?”

I snatch her screwdriver from her hands before slugging back a third of the glass and handing it back. “I was just thinking how blessed we are. It has everything to do with the fact we’re family and nothing to do with the number of zeros in our bank accounts.”

“Amen, sister.” She raises her glass against my imaginary one.

I kick off my shoes before following her down the hall. “What are you doing home?”

Kalie flicks her long dark hair, an identical shade to mine. Her blue eyes sparkle. “It’s Memorial Day, Laura. Like many people, today is a day off.”

“It’s Memorial Day?” I blink as my brain assimilates what day of the week it is. Then I shout, “Shit! Tonight’s my parent’s anniversary party.”

“You must be more tired than you thought,” she clucks sympathetically because she knows my mother’s hyper-organized nature would have sent us at least ten reminders.

“Remember how you felt when you were studying for the bar?”

She chuckles. “How could I forget?”

“That’s what I feel like.” I shudder in remembrance as we make our way toward delicious smells wafting down the hall.

Grace’s head pops up from where she’s flipping pancakes on the griddle. “Because of nightmares or something else?”

Sliding onto one of the stools at our kitchen counter, I sip my drink before answering. “Yes? I’m considering taking a temporary position to ease my way back into medicine.”

There’s not a single sound in the kitchen except the sizzle of the grill. Casually, I lean over and pluck a grape from the fruit salad Grace has next to her. “Better flip those before they burn.”

Cursing, Grace begins flipping the golden pancakes one by one.

Kalie immediately begins interrogating me. “Anyone we know?”

I shake my head before giving it consideration. “Actually, you might. I’m not certain about Gracie.”

Grace ducks her head to give her attention to the food. “Not another word until we’re at the table. I want to hear about this from start to finish.”

Kalie hooks an arm around my shoulders before narrowing her eyes. Grace depriving her of her advantage of having me to interrogate. Grateful for the delay, I ask her, “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“Well, since you’re so enamored of the fruit, serve that up. Kalie, drinks. We’re just about ready.”

Kalie drawls, “Can I get Laura a supersize cup? Maybe it will help her loosen her lips.”

I reach into the bowl and pluck out a piece of tangerine. I fling it at my cousin’s forehead. Instead of trying to catch it with her mouth, she uses Grace’s glass to nab it out of thin air.

Grace and I applaud.

“Thank you. For my next act, I pry open safes with just my mouth.” She stares at me pointedly.

I do the one thing guaranteed to piss her off. “It’s not a state secret. In fact, your father helped arrange it.”

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