Page 7 of Then There Was You

“Okay.”

I place my hand in hers and she pulls me to stand.

“We’ll be back,” she says to everyone as she gently pulls me out of the living room and into the entryway. She releases my hand, and I follow her out through the front door and around the side of the house.

“What did you want to show me?” I ask, looking around the beautiful backyard.

“Nothing. I wanted to check if you’re okay. You were quiet in the house.”

She links her arm with mine and we walk to where a wooden swing hangs from a large oak tree. “Are you okay?” she asks again when I haven’t answered her. “It’s okay not to be, especially after everything.”

“I’m okay, Pais.”

“You sure?”

“I miss my mom, and today is probably harder than most. She loved Thanksgiving, but…” I trail off and shake my head.

“But what?”

“You’ll think I’m a horrible person,” I whisper.

She gently squeezes my arm. “I promise I won’t. Talk to me, Tay.”

I sigh and look at the ground. “I was relieved when she died. I can’t believe I’m saying those words, but it was so hard to watch her go through that. She had no idea who I was and hadn’t for a while. She was so confused and would lash out whenever I tried to help her. In the end, it wasn’t my mom lying in that bed. The dementia had taken her. I lost her a long time ago.”

“I’m so sorry, Taylor. I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. You’re not a horrible person. It was no life for either of you.”

“She’s in a better place now, and hopefully, I am too. Thank you for inviting me today. I don’t think I realized how hard it would be, the first holiday without her, but being here with you all makes it a little easier.”

She smiles sadly. “Like I would ever leave you on your own on Thanksgiving, and you can talk to me whenever you need to. After everything you did for me with Connor, I owe you, Taylor.”

I shake my head. “You don’t owe me anything. It’s what friends do.”

“I’m so glad you decided to make the move here. I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

She pulls me into a hug, and I hold her tightly. She’s like a sister to me, and I really have missed her these past few months.

“Should we head back inside?”

I nod and we walk arm in arm back around the side of the house. As we get around the corner, there’s a motorcycle parking on the driveway.

“Looks like Seb’s made it,” Paisley says.

I watch with wide eyes as he climbs off the bike and removes his helmet. “God, he’s even hotter than I remember, especially riding that bike,” I mutter as I take in all six foot three of him. He’s wearing black jeans and a black leather jacket. Most of his tattoos are covered by his jacket, but I can see a couple on his hands. I’ve never been attracted to a guy with ink before, but on him, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

She looks at me in surprise. “You think Seb’s hot?”

I look at her like she’s crazy. “You don’t?”

“Well, sure, but you’ve never mentioned that you thought he was hot.”

I shrug. “He’s practically your brother-in-law. It’s not like he’s going to be interested in me anyway. I’ll just admire him from afar.”

Her forehead furrows in confusion. “Why the hell wouldn’t he be interested in you? You’re beautiful, Taylor.”

“Not Seb Brookes beautiful.”

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