Page 162 of Meet Me in the Valley
Kerry straightens, brows raised in confusion as he gently offers it back. I stand off to the side, pinching the bridge of my nose, watching the mess unfold. I feel for Kerry, caught in the crossfire of drama none of us asked for. He’s trying to piece together the vibe, offering a soft, unsure smile.
“Hey,” Kerry says calmly, voice even and warm. “I’m Kerry. I was just showing Cali some camera tricks. It’s really nice to meet you.”
Nora lets go of Cali’s hand like it burned her. Cali darts over to me, tucking herself tight against my side. Kerry extends a kind hand toward Nora, but she just stares at him.
She stares. And stares.
And something in her eyes shifts. There’s an unspoken pain there. And then it’s like Kerryseesher for the first time.
His hand drops slightly, his mouth parts.
“Juliet?” he whispers.
Wait—what? Juliet?
“Juliet?” Cali echoes, eyes bouncing between them. “Who’s Juliet?”
I can’t move. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. A weight settles in my chest as my gut screams that whatever this is—it’s big. And messy. And very muchnotin the past.
Nora breaks her gaze from Kerry and turns to me. “Take Cali home later. I have to go. I’m sorry.”
“Wait!” I call out as she turns, practically sprinting toward the back gate. My heart stutters. She doesn’t even have the keys.Idrove.
I bend to Cali’s level. “Stay here with Kerry, okay? I need to check on your mom.”
She nods, hesitating only for a second before walking toward a very stunned, very curious Kerry. I mouth,“Sorry”to him, then take off after my flighty sister.
What the hell is happening?
“Nora! Slow down!” I yell after her.
From the corner of my eye, I see Logan moving toward us, concern etched into his features. I wave him off and gesture toward Cali and Kerry. He reads the moment instantly and veers toward them.
“Fuck this,” I mutter, kicking off my heels.
By the time I push through the gate, Nora is pacing out front, hands threaded through her hair, her breathing ragged and fast, like she’s on the verge of a full-blown panic attack.
Without thinking, I pull her straight into my arms. Any remnants of frustration I may have had dissipate the moment I hold her. Just me and my sister. And whatever she’s trying to carry.
She crumples against me, tears soaking into my shirt.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers into the crook of my neck, her voice broken.
I cradle the back of her head, rocking her slightly, whispering soft, soothing sounds like she’s a wounded bird too scared to land. My throat burns with unshed tears, the chaos and confusion of the afternoon fading under the weight of her pain.
“It’s okay,” I breathe. “You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
After a beat, I risk it, approaching the situation with careful steps.
“What happened back there, Nora?” I ask, brushing her hair from her face. “Talk to me. Please.”
Whatever has my sister unraveling right in front of me needs to come out. We promised each other no more secrets. No more half-truths. No more silent suffering behind polite smiles. But I know Nora. She’s still keeping secrets. Burying them so deep they might never surface, like a locked box rusted shut at the bottom of the ocean.
I just want her to let me in.
Nora sniffles, scrubbing at her face with the heels of her hands. Her eyes, usually so sharp, so full of fire, are dim and washed out now. And it kills me to see her like this.
She draws in a few shaky breaths, then squeezes her eyes shut, letting out a broken, hollow laugh.
