Page 102 of The Summer We Mended
They sat there a while longer, watching the stars come out one by one.Eventually, Anna tilted her head and looked up at her brother.“Can I ask you something?”
“Shoot.”
“Why did you and Nessa really break up?”
He smiled without humor, exhaling like he’d been waiting for the question.
“I loved her,” he said.“Still do, in a way.She was there for some big moments in my life.But we weren’t right anymore.Not for where we are now.”
“What changed?”
“We did,” he said.“I think we both thought we’d settle down eventually.She wanted to travel, live in cities, and build something new every six months.And after Dad died… I didn’t want any of that.”
Anna studied his face in the dim light.“You came home.”
“I had to,” he said.“For Mom.For me.I didn’t know how to help her.I still don’t, half the time.But I couldn’t be on the other side of the country while she was falling apart.”
Anna nodded slowly.“That makes sense.”
“Nessa didn’t understand.She didn’t want to understand,” Cody continued.“Family wasn’t her priority.And I couldn’t fault her for it… But I also couldn’t pretend it didn’t matter to me.”
Anna reached over and took his hand again.“I’m glad you’re here.”
He looked at her, his eyes soft.“Me too.”
They sat in silence for a moment before Cody nudged her with his shoulder.“You know what I missed most about being here?”
“Lobster rolls?”
“That, and… you.”
Anna blinked, warmth blooming in her chest.“You’re such a sap.”
“Only for my baby sister,” he teased.“And those twins.Blaze tried to convince me earlier that the moon is made of cheese.”
“Sounds legit.”
“He had a whole story.There were astronauts and crackers involved.He tells those tall stories just like Dad used to.”
Anna laughed, the sound breaking some of the heaviness in her chest.She leaned her head on his shoulder again, and this time he wrapped an arm around her.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For being here.For not running away from all of this.”
“I think we both know who the brave one is,” he said.“You’re keeping everyone together, Anna.Even Mom.Even with everything going on.”
She didn’t reply.She didn’t need to.
“Do you think, since Mom asked Jess for help, that she’s better now?”Cody continued.
“I hope so,” Anna said.“She was so out of it for so long after Dad.But this… this feels like something.And Jess is good, like really good, and I think Mom’s right, people will see that.Honestly, I think this is good for both of them.”
“I think you’re right.They could both use the distraction.”
“Mom even said that Dad would have been excited, that he always told her to ask Jess marketing questions.”
