Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60933 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“The library is our favorite place. All the good things happen there,” Bella said as if she was sharing a wonderful secret.
Willa placed her hand on mine under the table, and I turned my hand over so that I could thread my fingers through hers. This was going to be a journey, but it was one she had needed for far too long. I just feared the steps it took to get her through it. Pain was going to be involved and I hated to know she would hurt. I wanted to save her from everything. I always had. This time I couldn’t but I would be there while she waded through.
CHAPTER FIVE
WILLA
Bella had kept us very entertained during dinner with stories about her school, Chance, and her friends. Not once did she mention our mother. When the topic went in any direction that Mother might be brought up, she would pause and go in another direction. She was way too wise for her years, and I knew that had a lot to do with the home life she had been given. Although Chance seemed to have done an excellent job taking care of her. The guilt that I hadn’t been there to do the same for him and her weighed on me heavily.
Rick had always kept Chance by his side. They had gone to ball games together and played catch in the yard. He had even taken Chance on trips with him that I didn’t get to go on, and when Mother had to stay behind with me she resented me for it. Not once had I considered that my brother’s life had been hard. That he had been neglected. If I had… I wouldn’t have kept my distance. I wouldn’t have let our mother keep us from being together. All three of us.
Sitting around the living room, Chance and Gunner were talking while Bella showed me every special item she had in her backpack. They ranged from shiny rocks she had found to tiny little dolls that Chance had bought her as rewards for good grades. I learned all about her best friend Mags and how they could swing the highest on the playground.
When Chance finally told Bella it was time for bed, she sulked only a moment, then hugged me tightly before going to do the same to Nonna. She paused at Gunner and ducked her head, unsure what to do, and he held out his arms. “Hey, I like hugs too,” he told her.
That was all the encouragement she needed. She threw herself into his arms and gave him a hug before blushing as she called out good night to us all and then followed Chance to the bedroom that had been mine once.
I looked at Nonna as I fought back the emotion clogging my throat. I had made a mistake and I couldn’t go back in time. I should have known my sister. Tonight, I was seeing all I had missed. Hearing about her life rather than being a part of it.
“Not sure how luck had it, but none of my grandchildren inherited their mother’s meanness. I just don’t know where I went wrong with that one. I shouldn’t have let her daddy spoil her so.” Nonna looked so sad in that moment I wanted to get up and wrap my arms around her, but she stood up before I could move. “You need to talk to Chance. I’m going to go clean up the kitchen.”
Gunner stood up. “I’ll help you,” he told her, then looked down at me. “That is, if you don’t need me.” The concern in his gaze made me feel warm inside where I had been cold before. I always needed him. Especially now I was finding my strength from him but I couldn’t lean on him to face this. It wasn’t his fault.
I shook my head. “No, I’m fine.”
He kissed my head and whispered that he loved me, then followed Nonna into the kitchen. I waited only a few minutes before Chance reappeared.
“They’ve gone to clean up the kitchen,” I told him.
He let out a weary sigh and sank back down onto the sofa.
“So, talk to me. How are things? Is Mother being difficult? Does Bella know?” I wanted to apologize for not knowing. For not being there. For everything but I knew if I did I would start to cry. I could barely keep from it now.
He massaged his temples a moment, then lifted his gaze to mine.
“When is Mother not difficult? And yes, Bella knows. Mother is very verbal about her death and using it to manipulate and lash out. You would think with death being near, she would change, but she’s just gotten worse. I just couldn’t keep Bella there any longer. I had to get her out. I’ve stayed in that house for Bella, but this morning I went and signed a lease on an apartment in Little Rock. It’s located in Bella’s school district, so she can keep going to her school. We are staying here two days to visit, then I am going back there to move Bella and me out of that house. I warned Mother last week if she couldn’t speak with kindness to her daughter, then I would take her away and no court would stop me.”