Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 101051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 505(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 505(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Teagan reaches out and squeezes my arm. “I know you’re worried about her best interests, but don’t get yourself too worked up, okay? Look at this place, and look at her with Ethan.”
“I know,” I say quickly, hoping she won’t finish her thought.
She does anyway. “Lilly’s mom might be gone, but she’s gonna be just fine. Her situation isn’t like yours and Veronica’s.”
Nicole
I’m up early because I couldn’t sleep. I keep thinking about Ethan’s wife.
Last night, when I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, I found a note taped inside a kitchen cabinet. It was written in the same loopy script I saw in the book by Ethan’s bed.
E,
You give me the courage to face another day. Again. And again.
-Elena
I told myself it was romantic, but I kept thinking about the things my mom would say to us when we were kids—about how she kept going for us, about how she didn’t see the point if we weren’t with her. Sometimes people disguise their crutches as love, but pretty words don’t change the fact that it’s not healthy to put your whole purpose for being on someone else.
I feel like I’m spying on their marriage, but it’s hard not to when he refuses to let her go.
I pour myself a big mug of coffee and then grab my prescription from the medicine cabinet as Ethan walks into the kitchen. Lust knots in my belly at the sight of him in a dark suit and tie. I don’t want to be affected by him, but I am. He’s supposed to head to his conference this morning, and I know he’s nervous about leaving me here.
“You ready to head out?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah. I think so. I . . .” He frowns as he spots the bottle of pills in my hand and marches over to me. “What is this?” he asks, taking them from my hand.
“It’s my medicine.” I snatch it back. I’m grateful I packed my meds in my honeymoon bag. If they had been in my purse, I’d be without them.
He turns it in my hand to look at the label before bringing his eyes back to mine. “We specifically asked if you were on any medication when you interviewed for this job.”
Shit. Veronica isn’t, but had I been the one who interviewed, I would never have lied about my need for meds. That would be like a diabetic lying about needing insulin. “Why does it matter?”
“Why does it matter? That’s a medication for depression, and you’re caring for my daughter.”
“Are you really that big of an asshole? Because I thought you were a doctor, and a doctor should understand that somebody who suffers from this is better off with the medication than trying to pretend she doesn’t need it.”
“That doesn’t forgive you for lying about it.”
A knot forms in my stomach, and I search for the best way to speak the truth and only the truth. “I don’t know what your mother asked everyone she interviewed, but I know I wouldn’t have lied about this.” Damn it, Kathleen. Why didn’t you ask me about this?
“Fuck.” He spins away from me and drags a hand through his hair. He puts his hands against the wall and leans forward. “Are you okay? Should I cancel my trip?”
“I’m fine, Ethan. I’ve been stable for years. I just want to stay that way.”
He pushes off the wall. “I wish I’d known about this.”
“Now you know.” I lift my chin. I refuse to be shamed for taking the medication I need.
“Call Shay if you need anything, okay? I’ll call tonight after my meetings.” Then he stomps out of the house as if he’s going off to war.
“And then Madison D—not my best friend, the other Madison—she said she thought Mrs. Cooper was a meanie head, and Mrs. Cooper made her apologize and miss recess.”
I can’t hear the other end of the conversation, but I have to smile as I watch Lilly chatter on about her day with her grandmother. Kathleen called last night before her plane left New York, and again this afternoon after Lilly got home from school.
“Okay,” Lilly says. “Love you too. Call again tomorrow?” She nods. “Okay, here’s Nic.”
I take the phone, and Lilly hurries back to the table to work on her drawing. “How was your flight?”
“It was very long,” Kathleen says, “but I was able to sleep some. Caroline and I are in Berlin, and we’ll go meet the specialist at the treatment center tomorrow.”
I exhale heavily and walk out of the room so Lilly won’t overhear. “You really do have someone with you. I’m glad to know that.”
“Caroline is a dear friend. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“No one should have to go through that alone,” I say softly.
“Put it out of your mind. Did Ethan leave for his conference this morning?”