Page 167 of Catch the Sun

A smile tips my mouth. “Nobody turns down a picnic, Brynn. Nobody.”

She dismisses my claim with a beaming grin, slicing a hand through the air. “It’s not a problem. The great thing about Kai is that he’s extremely adaptable.”

My lips purse.

You kind of have to be in this cursed town that’s been privy to multiple tragedies in the span of a few months.

I should rephrase: You kind of have to be in this town that’s been privy to multiple tragedies in the span of a few months, thanks to the cursed Ella Sunbury.

“He made a charcuterie board,” I remind my friend as she gives her high ponytail a tug. “You don’t turn your back on a complex array of fine cheese spreads on your first official date.”

“I do like cheese.”

“Cheese wins. Every time.”

Brynn pauses, leveling me with a sympathetic stare. “I’ll have my ringer on full blast. Please call or text if you need anything. I’m so sorry about your grams.”

We hug each other as Kai pulls up in his dad’s Volkswagen and races to the passenger side door to open it for Brynn. I smile and send her off, just as he’s traipsing up the walkway. “Have fun,” I tell her with a wave.

“I will!” she calls back. “Cheese!”

Fifteen minutes later, I’m pulling into our driveway.

Brynn let me borrow her car to make the few-mile drive over to the house. It was my first time behind the wheel in ages after my doctor finally gave me the green light, and it felt good to have a semblance of control oversomethingin my life. All of my scans and tests have come back clear with no permanent brain damage, no vision impairments, and no issues with motor functions. Next, I’ll be working toward my GED, courtesy of missing nearly six months of my senior year.

Gathering my courage, I climb out and meet Mom in the living room as she shares a mug of tea with Ricardo on the couch. His arm is draped around her shoulders and my mother is snuggled up against his chest, both hands cupping the mug.

I’m glad she has someone after I left her in the shadows with all these ghosts.

She glances up at me when I enter. “Ella.”

“Hey.” I set my purse down and slide out of my sneakers. “How are you?”

All she offers is a small shoulder shrug as her eyes glaze with sadness.

My poor mother.

Ricardo stands from the couch, sending me an empathetic nod. “I’m going to head out back to mow,” he says, graciously leaving us alone.

“Thanks, hon,” Mom replies, reaching for his hand and squeezing before he disappears through the patio door.

I stand in the entryway, lost.

Frozen.

Hopelessly unsure.

“Come here, sweetheart,” Mom says, patting the space beside her on the sofa. “I miss you.”

My eyes mist, her words triggering my legs into action. I collapse beside her as her arms envelop me, and I break down. “I’m so sorry, Mom. For everything.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

“I abandoned you. I’ve been a really shitty daughter,” I croak. “Selfish.”

“Ella,” she whispers, propping two fingers underneath my chin and lifting my head. “Every human being has a right to be selfish when it comes to grief.I abandoned you, too, in the wake of what happened with your brother.” Her voice cracks on the last word. “I sacrificed precious time with you, so obsessed with overturning the case, when I still had a child here who needed me more than ever,” she tells me brokenly. “I kept you in the dark. I was trying to protect you, trying to save you from another crushing disappointment if it didn’t work out. So, no, Ella…you don’t need to apologize for taking time to heal, no matter the cost. I’ll always be your safe place to land when there’s nowhere else to go.” She strokes my hair back and shushes my tears. “I promise.”

Her words make me cry harder as I bury my face against her shoulder.

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