Page 60 of When Stars Fall

“Anna’s gone. Kyle called when she hadn’t returned after a few hours. Her phone is here, obviously, so I’m not sure when or how she’ll get in touch with you.”

I groan and plant my back against the kitchen wall, sinking to the floor. “What else have you got going on? I’m only here for another day and a half. Then I’m back and I can take him.” She knows what’s coming. This isn’t the first time Anna has run off while I’ve been away. Camila flew with Jamal to Tokyo once. She wasn’t so happy at the end of that flight. Jamal is not a traveler. Good thing I pay her well.

“Wyatt.” There’s warning in her voice.

“Camila, you understand how important my time here is.”

“And you realize you and your sister aren’t my only clients. Yes, you pay me for my services, but other people do too.”

“Give me half an hour and I’ll call you back.” I hang up and dial Tanvi’s number. She treats Jamal like a grandchild and might be willing to take him for a day or two.

“Wyatt?” Tanvi answers the phone, surprise in her voice.

“Hey, Tanvi, sorry to call out of the blue. Anna’s taken off.” I wince. “Any chance you could take Jamal for a bit?”

There’s a long pause. “This happens a lot.”

“Yeah.” I close my eyes and take my stress ball out of my pocket to squeeze it.

“Maybe you should think about making more permanent arrangements?”

We’ve talked about this solution before. But I’m not going after custody of Anna’s kid. Whether or not she’s a good mom, she’d never forgive me.

“Can you take him for a couple of days? I should be back in a day or two.”

“Where are you this time?” Tanvi asks.

“Ellie.” She’ll understand. She called me after she watched Jackson’s show, but I didn’t tell her what I was doing then. No point in getting her hopes up.

“Ellie!” Her voice is delighted. “Finally. Finally.” Tanvi laughs. “I’ll pick up Jamal. But if Anna comes to my house again looking . . .”

“Don’t let her in. Call Kyle. Hopefully I’ll be home by then.”

Tanvi wishes me good luck with Ellie. When I hang up the phone, I’m lighter, more hopeful. I text Camila and Kyle the arrangements and then shove my phone into my pocket just as Ellie comes into the kitchen.

“Is everything okay?”

“Anna’s run out on Jamal. I had to find someone to watch him for a couple of days.” I scan Ellie from her ponytail to her smooth, tan legs.

“Who took him?” She runs her hand along the counter.

“Tanvi.” I grimace. “I hope Anna doesn’t go to her house this time before I get home.”

“Anna still gets violent?” Ellie crosses her arms over her chest.

“It’s gotten worse as she’s gotten older. She’s aggressive when she’s been using, when Jamal isn’t where she thinks he should be. If Kyle and I aren’t around, she’s not allowed in the main house until she dries out.”

“Where does she go to dry out?”

“I have a guest house on the property. It’s not much, but it’s enough for the few days she always needs to get back on the right track.”

“How . . . I mean—?” Ellie’s expression is unreadable. She sighs. “I don’t want to be around that, Wyatt. How can you be around that and not relapse?”

There have been many nights in my bathroom, staring at the drugs Anna brought home, contemplating how bad one hit or one oxy would be. So far, I’ve always flushed them or thrown them out or gotten someone to take them from me. But I understand Ellie’s concern. “I’m committed to being better,” I say. “I don’t want to lie to you. There have been days where it’s hard to stay clean. Exceptionally hard. But I don’t want that life. I’m not going back.”

“And Anna?” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “You’re committed to helping her too? No matter what?”

The direction of this conversation isn’t good, but I’ve let my sister down too many times in this life already. I won’t do it again. “I can’t turn my back on my sister, Ellie. Definitely can’t turn my back on Jamal.”

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