Page 13 of Forever in the Country

SORREN: I’m taking Marlee out for the day. I’ll text Waylon and I’m going to ask Hank to make dinner

SUNSHINE: That’s a lot for you

SORREN: It’s past due

SUNSHINE: I’m proud of you

SORREN: Nothing to be proud of Sunshine—I’m just catching up

SUNSHINE: Agree to disagree.

My lips twitchat her sass as I pocket my phone. Rhea has become such an integral part of my existence, my recovery, and my assimilation to civilian life. I can feel our relationship starting to shift, but dammit, I need more time.

She waded with me through the darkness, through the doubt and the pain. She pushed me to be better, while never trying to make me feel less than for what I was able to give.

But that night was still burned into my brain, and the faster I got over myself, the faster I could convince her to give us a real shot.

6

RHEA

Despite him telling me he has it all under control, I still leave work early to get things ready for tonight. I want to make this special for Sorren because I don’t want him beating himself up over what he could have done instead of what hedid do.

I’m the middle sister sandwiched between two older and two younger brothers, so there was never any lack of sibling dynamics. But things between Sorren and Marlee have always been different.

He’d been her caretaker and guardian from the moment she’d been born, and every struggle, every heartache she ever had he’d internalized like it was his own. The only thing I could remotely relate to was the way Hank and I had begun working in the bakery together after he’d gotten out of prison. He’d been incarcerated for something he hadn’t done and had only been recently exonerated thanks to his wife.

Hank had shown up one morning after he’d just gotten out. I hadn’t been open long but I’d been hustling. I worked long hours and kept my inventory focused on the best-selling items before expanding.

I hadn’t asked any questions when Hank plopped a bag of ingredients on the counter across from me, and we continued on that way for weeks.

The demand for the bread he’d baked was astronomical, and I’d taken credit, at his request, for years. I hated that he suffered for something that he didn’t do, but I cherished those mornings together.

I still do.

He’d found sanctuary in the walls of my bakery—the place my heart hums as soon as I step inside. I couldn’t take all the credit, but I’d gotten my brother back and it was something I never took for granted.

Marlee had still been young when Hank got out of prison and even younger when he’d gone in. She attached herself to him like a shadow he couldn’t shake—not surprising considering he’s only a couple years older than Sorren. And while she looked at that particularly growly brother like a brother, I looked at hers and wanted to climb him like a tree.

And it was starting to be a problem.

Marlee hadn’t given Hank an option and he’d never complained about her being in his space—the egg incident aside. But Sorren’s homecoming wasn’t the same, and I knew it still hurt her knowing she wasn’t able to bulldoze into his life and make everything better.

Outwardly, Sorrenhadgotten better. He’d been more available to help and would show up at family functions with minimal growling.

Sometimes I missed the growling.

But he pulled back with his sister, giving her and Waylon space as they settled into being newlyweds. He’d supported Hank, showed up for Otto and Briggs, and painted most of Hannah’s bookstore to help Case.

But inside, I knew it was hard for him. It was hard for him in a way that was just as hard for me. At first, I felt my friends from college picking up and leaving one by one. We’d all been busy but me being in Clementine Creek didn’t fit in with their lives with husbands and kids and PTA meetings.

The reality stung, but I had my family and I loved the chaos that came with being this close to them. With each of my brothers getting married, I felt those same feelings creeping into my psyche.

I loved my brothers and their wives—I’d gained sisters and friends—but late at night when my house was quiet and the loneliness set in, I wanted that. I wanted mornings tangled up with a man who would worship my body as much as I would his.

I wanted stolen moments and kisses that were almost indecent in public and to come home after a long day and get lost in the comfort of a person who loved me every day and always.

Sighing, I arrange the flowers I picked up from Case in a water pitcher because I can’t find anything else. They’re pretty. Peonies, I think he said, in a beautiful peach color.

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