Page 24 of Dancing in the Rain

“I forgave you for that a long time ago. Just like you forgave me for ruining your Kate Spade dress when I borrowed it without asking.”

“Ihaven’tforgiven you for that. I loved that dress.” Sara’s teasing smile squeezed Peyton’s heart. “But I have forgiven you for stealing my boyfriend in high school.”

Ugh. Did she have to bring that up? It had been a painful strain between them for months. Sara had been eighteen, Peyton sixteen, when the asshole Sara had been dating had dumped her and the very next day asked Peyton out. She’d known it was wrong, which was why she’d lied about it and covered up the fact she was seeing Andrew for weeks before Sara found out. The guilt had eaten at her for a long, long time…Sara had been heartbroken and she’d made it worse. “I didn’t steal him,” she said quietly. “I told you that. I didn’t do anything to encourage him.”

“I know.” Sara shook her head. “I’m teasing. That was a rough time for us, but we both got sucked in by his charm. Eventually we also both realized he wasn’t worth it—a guy who would do that. We had our conflicts—what siblings don’t? We fought when we were little and competed for Mom and Dad’s attention. But you’ve always been there for me when it really matters. Always.”

Peyton’s throat burned. “You’ve been there for me, too.”

Sara reached for Peyton’s hand and they held on to each other.

“I wish it was me,” Peyton whispered. “And you’d be here for Chloe.”

“Oh, God.” Sara’s voice thickened. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s true.”

Sara’s fingers tightened. “It makes me so sad I won’t see her grow up. I won’t meet her boyfriends. Please…make sure they’re good enough for her. Make sure she knows how important she is and that she deserves someone who worships her.”

“I will.”

“I won’t know her husband or her children.”

The pain in Peyton’s chest was like a jagged knife slicing her open. Tears leaked from her eyes. She didn’t know what to say. Nothing was right. She couldn’t solve this problem, something she was usually so good at. So she said, “I love you, Sara.”

“I love you, too.”

Chapter 6

Drew called Sara the next day, late in the afternoon. Sitting in his family room, two beers inside him to give him courage, he picked up his cellphone and called her number.

Peyton answered. “Hi, Drew.”

She had a nice voice, low and soft.

“Hi.” He paused. “Uh, how are you? And Sara?”

“We’re okay.”

“Did you meet with the social worker?”

“Yes. It was…” She stopped. “It was informative. They’re going to start sending home-care workers here to care for her, but Sara may have changed her mind about dying at home. She’s not sure she wants Chloe to be around that, now that we know more about it. So tomorrow I’m going to look at the facility at the hospital. It’s apparently lovely. I’ve had a look online. It seems very homey.” Her voice wobbled a little. “I want to check it out, though.”

“Of course.” He sucked air into his lungs. “Look, I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and I’m having a change of heart.”

Silence. “What does that mean?” Her voice had gone terse.

“I’ve changed my mind. About meeting Chloe. It’s a bad idea. For all of us. I have nothing to offer her, and she has a lot going on right now.”

More silence.

“So I won’t be coming on Saturday. Just wanted to let you know.” He paused. “I’m sorry. Please tell Sara I’m sorry and I wish you all the best.” Jesus Christ, that sounded terrible. Sara was dying. What the hell was “all the best”? He pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I’m sorry. Goodbye.”

He ended the call, tossed his cellphone onto the table with a clatter, and buried his face in his hands.

Fuck, he was an asshole. The worst worthless piece of shit on the planet.

But he was right. Chloe was better off not knowing him. He was an unemployed bum who was such a loser his wife cheated on him, who drank too much and started brawls in bars. Who was terrified of a little girl and too cowardly to meet her.

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