Page 76 of Relentless

She was reminded again that her younger sister spent nearly all her time in the damaging sun, yet she glowed.

“I definitely haven’t been too hard onher,”she glowered. Rifling through her sizable cosmetic bag for her moisturizer, she unzipped the side compartment.

Out clattered her silver flask, clanging loudly on the bathroom countertop.

Her eyes widened as she retrieved it, feeling the weight of the cold metal in her palm.

She knew it was full to the brim.

Of course, she would have never left home without a littlesomething.She unscrewed the cap and took a whiff.

Vodka, my favorite.

She pulled the cold silver flask to her lips, preparing to savor the burn she had missed over the last few days. Before she could enjoy her first sip, she was distracted by chatter and laughter outside her bedroom window. Curiosity made her replace the lid, screwing it firmly in place. Peering out the frosted glass, the snow was falling harder than it had in days.

Down below, Maeve was patiently holding the reins of two horses while Crew and Oakleigh said a long goodbye.

Harper smirked and rolled her eyes at the scene.

In some regards, her daughter hadn’t changed at all. She was the same old Oakleigh. No amount of rationalizing could convince the young woman that there was more to life than ocean-blue eyes and a chiseled jaw.

Harper knew it was the arrangement with the Abernathys that had sent Oakleigh well on her way down the path of rebellion. She maintained that it had all been a calculated effort for her daughter’s well-being. Despite his pesky wandering eye, Hudson would have given her the quality of life Oakleigh was accustomed to — one that she deserved.

After all, Harper had dealt with Shep shattering her heart in a million different ways, but she had always known that he was simply a means to an end. He was the type her parents insisted she marry.

The perfectly charming, magnetic man to take over their ministry.

She ran her tongue over her smooth veneers, disgusted as she observed the two below in their long embrace. Oakleigh would never understand the sacrifices Harper had made to give her children a life of privilege.

Out of all the boys that had passed through her daughter’s life, she had to admit that Crew did seem different. She was more than an object or a prize to be won, Oakleigh was his whole world.

She remembered a time when Oakleigh had beenherentire world.

Poor idiot.

Even though the pitiful thought was for Crew, she mostly felt sorry for herself. Although she would never say it out loud, losing Oakleigh had wounded her.

The two lovebirds finally released each other from their nauseating display. Crew grasped Oakleigh’s hand for one last squeeze before taking the reins from Maeve, and mounting up on his horse.

Harper couldn’t help but shake her head at their theatrics.

Now that the coast was clear, she cracked open her bedroom door. Her brow furrowed as she noticed a travel mug of coffee waiting for her in the hallway.

There was a bright sticky note on the side of the mug where she recognized Oakleigh’s bubbly handwriting.

I know things are weird.

I’m here if you ever want

to talk about it.

— Oakleigh

Rubbing out the potential wrinkles from her forehead, she considered for a moment in the stillness. The silence should have been peaceful, yet it reminded her of the vacant estate waiting for her when she got home. She knew that the notewas probably yet another tactic to break down her walls of protection, and yet she had to admit it was working.

She groaned as she stooped to pick up the coffee, feeling every muscle strain. Taking a long sip, she again found herself enjoying the coffee that tasted strong and bitter in all the right ways.

Oakleigh’s concern for her well-being brought a dash of purpose.

---