Page 96 of Always Be Mine

“They were wrong.” Kat jumped off the counter and moved into the chair across from him. “And I’m not trying to defend them.” She shrugged. “Okay, maybe a little bit. But if they said that, it was only because they were scared. We’re all scared, Craig. These stipluations Dad gave us…they’re crazy. It’s a lot to take in.”

“You honestly don’t think I know that?”

He wasn’t in the mood to listen to his sister, but he didn’t have the energy to make her leave. Besides, the alternative to having Kat there was to sit alone in the kitchen and drive himself crazy with all the ways he’d screwed up the best thing that had ever happened to him.

“It doesn’t matter anyway.” He tossed the rest of his drink back and reached for the bottle. “She’s gone. It’s over. All of it. I failed to hold up my end of the bargain, and I lost the best woman who’s ever walked into my life. I screwed up, Kat.”

“What do you mean, she’s gone?”

Craig pulled out the note Lucy had left for Meri and handed it to Kat, who read it quickly.

“She’s not gone.” Kat’s lips curled up into a smile. “I mean, she might be right now. But not forever.”

“What are you talking about? That’s exactly what’s happened.”

“Nope.” Kat laughed, but there was nothing about the situation Craig found remotely funny. “She’s hurt and she’s definitely upset, but she’s not gone, Craig. She wouldn’t leave her cat behind if she really wasn’t coming back. But I think, more importantly, Lucy loves Meri. She wouldn’t leave her without saying goodbye.”

Craig looked up into his sister’s eyes.

“She’s not Donna, Craig. She won’t just leave.”

Her words hit him in the gut.

“Don’t write her off. Not yet.”

Was that what he was doing? Was he comparing Lucy to Donna?

Shit.

He really wasn’t good at this. He took a breath and dropped his head into his hands.

“And if you’re right?” He looked up to see Kat watching and waiting. “Then what? Can I fix it? What about Dad’s will?”

“Oh, big brother.” Kat shook her head. “First off, Iamright. She’ll be back.” She winked. “As far as the will is concerned, I think that’s a good question for Steven Larson, but I feel like it’s probably okay for your nanny to have a little vacation. I don’t remember hearing anything contrary to that.” She got up from the table and pushed the chair in. “As for fixing things with Lucy…” She shrugged. “I’d say that part is totally up to you.”

ChapterTwenty-Five

Lucy had spentthe better part of the last forty-eight hours on the threadbare couch in Mandi’s downtown Vancouver apartment. Her back ached and there was a crick in her neck, but her physical aches and pains were nothing compared to the hurt in her heart.

“Did you sleep last night?”

Her best friend pulled open the blinds on a bright summer day outside, but Lucy pulled the blanket up over her head, unwilling to face another day.

“You have to get up.” Mandi ripped the blanket off, exposing her to the light.

“Hey!”

“Hey, nothing. I’m not going to let you fade into the fabric of this couch.”

“It would be an improvement.” Lucy pulled herself up to a sitting position and ran her hands through her wild hair. She tugged it back into a ponytail.

“Don’t insult my furniture.” Mandi pretended to be insulted. “This is my favorite couch. The things it’s seen…”

Lucy groaned. “Please don’t tell me that.”

“Will it help you get up if I fill you in on all the details?” She wiggled her eyebrows, and Lucy couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“No.” She stood and headed into the tiny, attached kitchen to make coffee. “But I’m up. Happy?”

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