Page 157 of Shattered

“I agree!” Millie exclaimed with a firm head nod and swung them over her shoulder to head to the register.

Millie had her fall sorority formal coming up, and Sam and Callum had offered to take her shopping for the perfect dress. Sam could tell by the look Callum was giving her that he’d completely underestimated the amount of damage the two girls could do in one shopping trip. He may have also underestimated the cost of formal dresses.

“Why does she need both?” Callum looked at them with wide-eyed shock.

“Because she does,” Sam answered. And that was that.

Millie continued, “Next is shoes, and I need some new make-up, and–”

“Why do you need new…” Callum questioned with a furrowed brow and then abruptly stopped when Sam cut her eyes over at him. “You know what”—he reached into his wallet and passed over his card—“get whatever you want. I’m headed next door to look at art supplies.” He kissed Millie on the cheek and Sam on the lips before he walked away.

“I’ve literally never seen him smile this much,” Millie said as they walked through the shoe department.

“He’s so happy that he’s getting to spend some time with you. I think he’s been kind of jealous of our lunch dates. I’m debating whether to ask him to join us on the next one.” Sam was smiling as she spoke.

Millie laughed. “I think he is just happy in general. And I think you have a lot to do with that.” Millie nudged her in the side. “You know, he told us about his degree.”

Sam abruptly stopped walking. “He did?”

“Yeah. Last week when you and Kristin were outside with Micah checking on the burgers, he told me, Mom, and Connor that he graduated. That’s why mom was crying when y’all walked back in.”

Sam almost wanted to cry then, too.

“Mom is so proud of him. We all are. But he is so hard on himself and always thinks the worst. Even as he was saying it, you could tell he was so nervous. It was like he was scared we would laugh at him or something.”

“He started therapy last week,” Sam added as she sat down on one of the benches meant for trying on shoes.

“Yeah. He mentioned something to Connor.” Millie scooted in beside her. “It’s about damn time. None of us blame him for what happened between Mom and Dad. We never have. It was just…well…I think we all processed it a little differently, and it took a while to all come together. Mom goes to therapy. I go. Callum goes. Now, if we can just get Connor in there, we will be all set,” Millie said with sad eyes.

“Connor is going to need to choose that on his own,” Sam added.

“Doesn’t mean I still can’t be the annoying little sister and badger him about it.” Millie smiled.

“No, I guess it doesn’t.” Sam stood then, nodded her head for Millie to join, and picked up a pair of ridiculously shiny heels she thought Millie might like. “Do you think you’ll see your father again?”

“Ha.” Millie started to laugh as she slipped the shoes on and then stopped to look at Sam. “I don’t know. I still kind of hate him. I know I shouldn’t because he is my dad, and I should–”

Sam quickly cut her off, “There is no should or shouldn’t. Just because you are related by blood doesn’t mean you owe him anything. He messed up, and it’s on him to fix it. I’m not talking about with your mom, I know that’s over, but with you three. He broke that trust and then basically walked out when everything went to shit. You don’t owe him a thing. And, if we’re being completely honest, your dad is an absolute asshole. You all are better off without him,” Sam stated.

She recalled the night Callum had further explained what all had happened with his dad. How Mr. Barker had never truly accepted either of his sons. Connor was too gay, and Callum was too rebelious. Neither were the picture perfect creations he had planned. Neither would ever achieve orbeenough to stand on that pedestal Mr. Barker had built so high up in the sky.

Callum had explained how, when the affairs came to light and he had told his mom what had been going on right under her nose, his dad had beat the absolute crap out of him in the living room. Connor had tried to intervene and ended up with a busted lip and a black eye. Apparently, and even though Callum wasn’t aware of it until years later, Mr. Barker had done the same thing to Connor the night he came out and introduced his dad to the guy he’d been dating.

Mr. Barker had never apologized for any of it. Not to their mom for the affairs, not to Callum for the fight, and not to Connor for never letting him know he was enough just the way he was.

Mr. Barker had promptly walked away after that last blow, gotten into his fancy sports car, and driven off. He’d periodically come back to shower Millie with gifts to try and win her affection, hence the awkward dinner party at the Hadley house all those months ago. Sam had found out later that the only reason Connor had even gone to dinner that night was to keep an eye on Millie; to

make sure the abuse that had been experienced by both brothers didn’t reach their sister. In reality, Mr. Barker was now just a name attached to a person they didn’t really even know.

“I guess you’re right.” Millie carried the new shiny shoes and the other three pairs she decided to buy (with her brother's card and would thank him later) to the counter. “Can I ask you something?”

Sam wanted to laugh. Millie and Callum were so alike, they even spoke in the same way.

“Of course.”

Millie caught her eye and then clarified, “It’s about Christian.”

Sam nodded.

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