Page 54 of The Life We Left Behind

“Yeah. I had some really good times. I know it doesn’t seem like it because of the way I left, but growing up in Willowbrook was amazing.”

She looked at me pointedly, and I frowned.

“Is this coming from you or a particular young man who has mysteriously not been able to find a Band-Aid yet?”

“First, we both know there was no chance of him finding one. Second, does it matter?”

She had me there.

“I guess not. But what would we do if I moved here? And you live in the city. You can’t be that bored with us that you’re trying to ship us off already.”

Blake shrugged. “I wouldn’t be opposed to a change of scenery.”

Now this wasn’t something I’d been expecting. Blake had been all about living in the city. It was part of her plan to become a big artist and show her parents how wrong they were for doubting her. And she was doing it. Blake might not be swimming in cash right now, but she was making ends meet on her own. And she was finally getting some interest from galleries about her work.

“Where is this coming from? I thought you loved living in the city.”

Blake finally stopped looking through the cupboards and turned toward me, leaning against the counter as she sighed.

“I guess being out here, I feel like I can finally breathe. The city is fine for getting my work out there, but if I feel so suffocated that I can’t actually work in the first place. It’s not really doing me a lot of good. For the first time in months, I can feel all the ideas brewing in the back of my mind about pieces I want to do. I don’t feel like I’m forcing it. I’m itching to paint right now.”

I smiled sadly, going to the fridge, pulling out two cans of Coke, passing one to her, and opening one for myself.

“I didn’t realize you’d been having problems with your work recently.”

“I’ve been feeling like this for a while,” she admitted. “I was so adamant that I was going to ‘make it’ that I never really considered what that was going to look like.”

I nudged her gently with my shoulder. “You know I’m proud of you, right?”

“Yeah.” She wrapped an arm around me, and we stood in the kitchen drinking our Cokes and thinking. “I probably shouldn’t be encouraging you to get sued,” she added.

I laughed then. “Worst-case scenario, I pay for the survey. He’s not suing me. I haven’t done anything wrong. He’s just like the rest of his family and throwing a tantrum because he might not get what he wants. The only thing they care about is money, and they just assume the rest of us are the same.”

“You don’t really mean that,” Blake whispered.

I made an unconvinced sound, not exactly sure how I felt about Trace right now. Apart from the fact that I was done being subjected to his moods.

“If it wasn’t for them, would you want to stay?” Blake asked carefully.

I didn’t need to even think about it. “If it wasn’t for them, I never would have left.” Then I sighed. “But theyarehere. I can’t help but think that while Cade growing up here might be nice, it would be like living under a microscope. I don’t want him to have people whispering behind his back because his father won’t even acknowledge his presence. It would hurt him.”

She nodded sadly. “Sometimes people surprise you, Delaney. And you won’t know what it will be like before you give them the chance. How about you don’t make any decisions until after thefuneral? Just see what it’s like being back in town. See what Cade thinks.”

I had loved growing up in this place. There was a freedom kids had in small towns that Cade would never get to experience in the city. The school was smaller, but it was no less equipped than the one he’d been going to. But what would I do? I might notneeda job, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want one. I’d already been starting to feel the itch of needing something to do before I was called to the hospital. There were so many more opportunities for me in the city. But was that what I even wanted?

Was I really considering a life here with Cade?

“Just think about it, Lanes. You’re not making any commitments. You’re just considering your options,” Blake reassured me.

I nodded, still not entirely convinced. I couldn’t make any decisions until I’d sat down with Trace and had a real conversation with him. One that didn’t immediately devolve into sex or an argument. I had no idea why I kept putting it off. While I was at it, I should probably add Booker to the list of people that I needed to talk to. At least that didn’t come with the same risks that Trace did. Dad had told me about the ranch Booker had set up, and Cade would probably love to swing by for a visit. At least there was someone in that family who would treat him the way he deserved.

CHAPTER TWENTY

DELANEY

The barn door swung open with a suspicious screech of the hinges that had me making a mental note to get it looked at soon. If we were staying on the farm, we’d need to hire someone to help out. Even without the animals, there was going to be some upkeep, not to mention all the odd jobs that my father had clearly been putting off as he’d started to feel the effects of his illness.

Cade darted inside without a care in the world. The kid had absolutely no sense of danger, and I shouted after him, “Be careful! We don’t know what’s in here. Let me at least find the light.”

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