Page 88 of The Making of Marnie Jones

“It’s my fault, you know.”

“What are you talking about?” His niece was looking out the window, and while her gaze was fixed, she obviously wasn’t seeing the passing traffic.

“If I hadn’t taken those pills, then I wouldn’t have wound up in the hospital. If I hadn’t wound up in the hospital, then that Phil guy wouldn’t have blackmailed you. See? It’s my fault.”

He couldn’t argue with her logic, but he needed to point out the most important part of the equation. “None of this would’ve happened if they hadn’t arrested your mother with those drugs.”

“They weren’t mine, you know? I only said they were so she wouldn’t get in trouble.” Her lower lip quivered. She blinked, valiantly fighting the tears.

“I know they weren’t your drugs. The police know they weren’t your drugs.” He pulled into a parking space, set the car to park, but didn’t immediately kill the engine. “I love my sister, but she’s not been a good mother to you.” He remembered Marnie’s words of warning about what Lydia had gone through—how she was a victim as well. “Neither you nor your mom asked for this to happen to you. Drugs, however, are never the solution.”

“I see that…now.” Her eyes were shiny with tears. One finally escaped, trailing down her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

Without hesitation, he reached over to pull her into a hug. She shook with an intensity he associated with tremendous grief. Maybe that was part of this. So much pain for such a young soul. Yet it reassured to hold her close. Good that she was confident enough in his love to trust him.

Eventually, she pulled away, wiping her tears.

He opened the middle console and handed her a tissue.

“Never blame yourself for any of this. Promise me you’ll talk to me or Marnie if you’re in that dark place. Please, don’t take drugs again.”

Her eyes were clear when she met his gaze. “That’s an easy promise to make.”

“Maybe, maybe not. You have to go back to counseling, and that won’t be easy. Using drugs to take you to a place where it doesn’t hurt is a powerful lure.” Was it too soon to broach the subject of a therapist?

“Except I almost died. Anyway, you and Marnie will be there to help me.”

“Sure, sweetheart.” Except Marnie wasn’t staying in Toronto, of that he was sure.

Shit.

How to break that news to Olivia? Was it better coming from him or Marnie? Was there even a way to soften the blow, or were they careening toward an inevitable meltdown?

Reassure her.“We’ll be there to support you through the process.” He in person, Marnie over the phone. Despite the dark places Marnie was forced to explore, her dedication to his niece was one of the few certainties in this complete disaster. Her protectiveness of Olivia was far more than he could have asked for or imagined. He owed her. And had no way to repay the debt.

“What is it, Uncle Jake?”

Pulled from his reverie, he offered the bravest smile he could. He cut the engine. “Nothing important. Why don’t we walk?”

“Sure.”

Just like that, the moment of tension passed. The intermittent roller coaster of emotions was exhausting. He could only guess at what Olivia and Marnie were going through.

Exiting the SUV, they made their way to the walkway. He’d told her that she could pick any activity she wanted.

She chose to visit the CN Tower. Nineteen years in the city, and she’d never participated in this most touristy of rituals.

He hadn’t been there since he was a child. This journey contained some element of excitement for him as well—because they were going to be one-hundred-forty-seven stories off the ground.

After handing over an exorbitant amount of cash, they joined the line just behind a family with three boys under the age of eight.

The kids were fidgeting, fighting, and being pests.

Several times they bumped into him while their parents were totally oblivious. The need to say something burned in his gut.

Not worth the hassle.

Behind them, a pair of teenagers held hands and whispered in each other’s ear.

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