Page 117 of Broken

“You know what gets me, Tucker? I stepped aside for you. Do you have any idea how hard that was for me? When Izzy was breaking down in that hospital, I stepped away, foryou. Because you two have a bond together now that no one else can touch.That’swhat she needs more than anything right now, and you’re ignoring it and throwing her away! You’re letting my sister die inside because you’re too stubborn to be there for her!”

I stared, processing. Wondering if it was true. If it was, I’d really screwed up. I swallowed hard. “I didn’t know.”

Stefano cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to break this up, but this isn’t helping us find Izzy. Bridgette, you said you had more to tell us, other than the dresser?”

The dresser?I looked past Annie and Jet for the first time, and my heart dropped when I saw the mess. “Izzy did that?”

“And this.” Annie held up a broken picture frame, and I winced at the now ruined photo staring back at me. It was ours. It wasus. What we used to be.

“She destroyed it?” I asked, taking it from her. I gently pulled the picture from the frame, bits of glass falling at my feet.

“I think she threw it against the wall.”

Everything ate at me now. I’d been so wrong. “Fuck, I’ve screwed up.”

“Do we know why she flipped out? Did you break up with her or something?” Stef looked at me.

“No. Never. We haven’t even talked since she got home from the hospital.”

“And that’s why,” Annie interrupted. “She couldn’t take it anymore.”

“No. That’s not why,” Bridgette said from behind me.

“Then why?” Dad asked as we all turned to give her our attention.

Hesitating for a moment, Bridgette pulled some folded up pieces of paper from her back pocket. “She found this in my room. I was going to give them to the girls later today. That’s what Patrick wanted.”

“Daddy?” Annie asked, but I snatched the papers from Bridgette’s fingers and read them as quickly as my eyes could fly across the pages, my stomach tensing the further I read. The second I was through, I darted from the room and raced outside for my truck, knowing I had to find my girl.

ANNIE

I stared after Tucker as he ran from the room, shocked until it was too late to ask what it had been. I looked back at Mom. “What did Daddy say? What was it?”

“A letter, but I think it’s better if you read your own. I’m pretty sure that what upset your sister will be in yours, too.”

She held out an envelope, and I reached out to take it with nervous, excited hands. It seemed too good to be true.

“Annie?” I looked up at Jet’s dad. “If you don’t mind, could you read it out loud? We all need to hear it if we’re going to find out why Izzy’s so upset.”

I nodded, stunned, and began to read.

Hey there, Annie!

Happy birthday! Wow, if I were there, I’d be feeling pretty old right now, my baby girl now a legal adult and everything. I know so much has been thrown on your shoulders with everything that’s happened, and Ipray that some of that has eased in time now that I’ve been gone. You’re too young to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Take your time growing up. It will happen when it’s supposed to.

But in case with everything it already has, I think you should know that you’re more prepared for it than you might think. You have a desire for reaching out to those around you, and you strive to protect and encourage others in whatever way is needed at the time. Those are strong qualities that will serve you well your entire life. Stay true to them and to yourself.

I have always admired your passion for life, your dedication, and your need to protect. All qualities that drew me to your mother, by the way. You are so like her. Keep that in mind when y’all fight. You’re both too stubborn for your own good. Handy for that persistent side we have but try not to push it on your sister too often.

Now, I know you worry about her, and you mean well. You’ve always taken being the oldest so seriously, but remember, your sister has a mind and dreams of her own, and you should know that she’s stronger than you think. She feels things harder than most, so she falls harder than most, harder than you can sometimes understand. But understand that underneath it all, she’s resilient. Her ability to feel so deeply is her greatest strength. Not a weakness. Have faith in that. Let her live up to it.

And your brother…I’ve had so much less time with him than you girls. That is one thing I will always deeply regret, even up here. All I can say is keep an eye on him forme and promise that you and your sister won’t let him forget me. Tell him all of our crazy andfun stories, and let him know that I would be there for him just as much if I could.

How’s Jet? He reminds me of myself with your mom, crazy about you long before you ever realized how you felt. It’s been such an honor watching you with the love of your life these past few years, and it makes me sad to know that I won’t be there the day he takes your hand. He already asked, you know. This morning, actually, here at the beach house. So don’t worry when the time comes. You have my blessing. I can’t think of anyone better for you to share your heart with.

I wish I were there to see the beautiful, passionate, young woman I know you’ve grown into, but unfortunately, I can’t. Remember, though, that I will always be in your heart. I’m sorry that it has to be this way, but it’s how it’s supposed to happen. The parent goes before the child, even if, in our case, it happened too soon.

I stopped reading as my voice cracked, knowing those had to be the lines that had done my sister in. That Daddy could have never known would strike such a raw chord, and my eyes flitted down the rest of the letter about life insurance and money that had to have kicked Izzy as well. My throat closed when I got to the final lines.

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