Page 93 of The Chances We Take

I know you probably don’t want to talk to me, and I understand. I wouldn’t want to talk to me either.

I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry. Kacey and Ryker are home. I don’t know if you’ll get this, but I just wanted to let you know that we’re doing okay.

Tears pricked behind my eyes, but I blinked them away. The messages had changed from the ones five years ago. There wasn’t any manipulation behind them, no vitriol or blame.

Maybe she had changed.

I turned to Isabelle, uttering what I never thought I’d ever say. “Okay.”

I took a deep breath as I pulled my pickup into the familiar driveway. The olive-green paint on the house was chippedand showed signs of wear, but other than that, it hadn’t changed in the past nine years since I’d left for college.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted.

“I’ll be right here with you.” Isa grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Okay.” I exhaled a shaky breath and turned off the ignition. “Let’s do this.”

We walked up to the front door, the wood veneer also starting to crack and chip away. I knocked twice and stepped back, secretly hoping no one would be home.

“I don’t think—” I started to back away, wanting to pull Isa away from this place and never look back, but the door opened inward.

“Reid? W-what are you doing here?” Shock flashed across Eileen’s face, as if she wasn’t ever expecting me to show up. “Wait, no, that came out wrong. Come in. Please.” She opened the door wider and beckoned us to follow her in.

The home may have been cracked and broken on the outside, but the inside was nothing like I remembered. The smell of smoke and liquor had cleared out, and the space was bright with natural light from the windows. Even the furniture had been switched out for a newer, homier feel.

“Who is this?” She gestured to Isa.

“Hi, Mrs. Lawson, I’m Isabelle. I’m a, er…” she started to introduce herself before I cut her off.

“She’s my girlfriend.”

Isa looked at me, her eyebrows raised in confusion, but the expression quickly disappeared.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! It’s great to meet you. And you can call me Eileen.”

I could hardly recognize the woman in front of me.The alcoholism had aged her, that was a given, but her eyes had a light to them I hadn’t seen before.

“Hey, Mom, is there someone—” Kacey’s voice drifted into the living room as she stepped out from the kitchen. “Reid? And agirl?” She ran over to me, practically jumping into my arms.

“Good to see you, too, Kace.” I pulled her closer into my arms. It had been too long since I’d seen her in person, and she was all grown up now. I had missed so much of their lives.

“I’m Kacey, Reid’s favorite sister.” She extended her hand to Isa.

“You’re my only sister,” I joked with her, the familiarity of our relationship rushing back to comfort me.

“I know. Hence,favorite.” She winked. “I’ll grab drinks for everyone? Isabelle, do you want to help me?”

“Yes, I can help!” she agreed. She mouthedyou okay?and I nodded, so she turned to follow Kacey. Before they disappeared around the corner, I heard her say, “You can call me Isa, by the way.”

“Let’s sit?” Eileen gestured to the couch, and I sank into the plush cushion.

An awkward silence filled the air as we sat together.

“Reid, I?—”

“Why?” I choked out at the same time she said my name. “Why didn’t you do anything to help yourself?”

Her eyes welled up, and she looked away for a moment before wiping her eyes and looking back at me.

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