Page 104 of Could Have Been Us
My chest aches at the statement, but I keep my features schooled. “I sometimes wished I was an only child.”
“You have four brothers?”
I walk into the living room area and pick up the photo of the five of us from Grayson’s wedding and show it to her. “Yup. This is them. Joshua is the oldest, he’s seven years older than I am.” I point to each as I speak. “Then Grayson, who is four years older. Alex is two years older, and Oliver is my twin.”
She nods slowly and then steps out of her room, entering the living room with the photo in hand. “You all live in this town?”
“Now we do, but for the last few years, we’ve been sort of scattered.”
“Why?”
I exhale deeply, deciding to take the opening and show that my family is far from normal. “Do you want to know all the family drama?”
“Sure . . .”
“Come sit,” I suggest, and Kinsley does. I tell her about my life. The parts about my father’s business, and how we all came to own shares. I tell her about the drama with Grayson and him, which is what led to my brothers and me wanting to open our own business.
“No way!” Kinsley interrupts.
“Yeah, it was . . . itishorrible. My father isn’t a good man.”
“This is crazy,” she notes with a smile.
“No family is normal, no matter what they say.”
“My life was normal until now.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her with all the sincerity I have. “I hate that this is what you’re dealing with, but it will get better. You just need to give it a bit of time.”
She tucks her leg underneath her. “My mom was so . . . perfect. She did everything for me and Dad. Even when she had cancer, she never let us feel neglected. I was so angry that, of all the people in the world, she would get sick, but she wouldn’t let me be. She kept telling me that it was okay and not to let this change me.”
“I think she did an amazing job raising you.”
“I miss her.”
“I know, honey.”
“She wouldn’t have let Dad drink. She would’ve stopped him. I tried to do what she would. I cleaned and ordered groceries, but he was so sad.”
The truth is that, if Misty were still with him, he wouldn’t feel the need to drink away his sadness at all. “Kinsley, you did nothing wrong. Neither did your dad. He is hurting and sad and he’s getting help. For you. His love for you is so strong that he willingly entrusted us so he could make himself better. I can imagine it feels different for you, but I promise, this was not because you didn’t do enough.”
Her head turns to the side, and she clears her throat. “I just want him to get better.”
“I want him to as well. If there’s any reason for him to keep trying, it’s you. He loves you.”
She nods, still not meeting my eyes.
“How about we watch a movie?” I suggest.
After a few seconds, she turns to me. “Which one?”
“You pick.”
She grabs the remote and leans back on the couch. Time, patience, and a little luck is all we need.
Chapter 32
Jack
