Page 29 of Mad Love

Her smile is pure, without any of the blame that they must all think I deserve.

“She works at Hanson’s Steakhouse,” Weston says.

I nod while they go on about how much they love the place.

“We don’t get to go as often—well, I live in Landmark Mountain now, so that’s part of it. But we hadn’t been there for a long time before that even. We’ll have go back,” she says.

Olivia rolls her eyes, but Felicity misses it because she’s smiling at me.

“You should bring Caleb out to meet everyone sometime soon,” Felicity says, looking at Weston and me. “Sutton hasa huge family and they’re all crazy about Weston now.” She laughs.

“They’re great,” Weston adds.

“Is that all you do?” Olivia asks, looking at me.

“All I do?” I repeat.

“For work?” Her eyebrows lift.

“Oh. Yes. I work a ton of hours and then try to help with Caleb when I’m off.” I shake my head.

She’s goneechoes in my mind.

“So this must feel pretty great, staying in this nice house indefinitely,” Olivia says.

“Olivia, you need to leave if you’re going to keep being like this,” Weston says.

She lifts a shoulder. “I’m just stating the obvious. No one else seems to be telling the truth.”

“It’s okay,” I tell Weston, standing up. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” I look at everyone. “It was nice to meet you. I’ll give you some time together. I know all of this is a lot to take in.”

“You don’t need to go,” Weston says softly.

“It’s okay.” I move past him and rush out of the room.

When I’m almost to the stairs, I hear Weston say, “She just lost her sister. While you’re here judging her about staying here, she’s about to have to face her parents, who just lost theirdaughter, and help them plan a funeral. Have some fucking mercy, Olivia. Sorry, Owen. Grab a dollar from the kitchen for your swear jar. You know where the stash is.”

I jog down the basement stairs before Owen gets to the kitchen and don’t stop until I’m in the room I slept in last night. I fall back on the bed and can’t fight back the tears any longer. My phone rings before I can delve too deep into all my feelings.

“We’re back,” my mom says. “Where are you?”

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

About an hour and a half later, my parents arrive at Weston’s. I feel awful for one more minute that they had to drive to get here after their road trip, but their need to see Caleb after everything that’s happened outweighed their exhaustion. When I mentioned to Weston that they were back and wanted to see Caleb, he invited them to come here, but he also offered to go to them. I told him I’d let them make the decision and once they heard that his family was here, they said they’d come.

When they walk through the door, we fall into each other’s arms and I just thought I had cried before—it’s like a whole new dam of emotions floods out of me when I see my parents. After a few minutes, my mom pulls back and starts tending to me the way she always does, pushing my hair back and reaching in her purse for tissues. She passes one to me and my dad, and we all blow our noses and try to get our bearings.

I feel my dad’s attention shift when he realizes Weston is in the room, and he clears his throat, nodding at him.

“Hello. I’m Chris.” My dad holds out his hand and shakes Weston’s. “And this is my wife, Pam.”

Weston nods and shakes Mom’s hand next.

My parents are unfailingly polite, so even though their shoulders are stooped with the weight of the loss of their baby girl, I know they’ll make an effort to be kind to Weston.

Out of all of us, Sasha has been the free spirit, never confined to a box. If she didn’t feel like being polite, she wouldn’t be. I’ve always admired that about her.

When my parents get a good look at the entryway with the grand double staircases, their eyes are as wide as mine were yesterday.

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