Page 12 of The Wish List
“I think you’re the kind of person who’s been through a lot of loss, and you should let yourself feel that.”
Beth hadn’t anticipated those words of kindness from Freya and mentally chided herself for always expecting the worst from people, especially her sisters.
“I want what’s best for Trinity.” She followed Freya toward the front door. “Has she said anything about the baby’s father?”
“No.” Freya’s voice was gentler than Beth could have imagined from her sharp-tongued sister. “She climbed into bed as soon as we were both back at the house last night, and she’s still sleeping. It seems like the drive took a lot out of her.”
“I imagine it did. I hate that she didn’t tell us. Did she say anything about how long she’s going to stay?”
Freya stopped at the door. “I told you, she went to bed when we got home. I didn’t give her the third degree.”
“That’s not what I’m suggesting. I just don’t understand, and I have questions about her medical care and her living situation and her job and what support she has to raise this baby out West. I thought she was in Montana, but she said last night that she drove from Colorado. When did she move?”
“Trinity is an adult. She isn’t a problem for you to solve. Neither of us is.”
Beth swallowed against the emotion that her sister’s words produced. They were the words she wanted to hear. She didn’t want responsibility for anyone other than herself right now.
Even though she hadn’t told her mom about the nurse practitioner program, she’d already rented an apartment near the Vanderbilt campus and registered for classes. Her tuition deposit was due before Christmas and she’d lose her housing deposit if she didn’t show up.
Was there any way she’d be able to leave with her mother’s current condition?
It was difficult to envision a world where Freya or Trinity stepped in to help. Her attention was brought back to the present as her brain registered the state of her mother’s house.
“How did it get like this?”
Freya turned, hands on hips. “Why are you asking me when you’re the one who lives in Magnolia?”
The windows and doors were still accessible, yet piles of books, mail and magazines were strewn throughout the entry, dining room, family room and kitchen. Bookshelves overflowed with knickknacks and collectibles in all shapes and sizes, although Beth could see no tangible worth to any of the overabundance of personal belongings. It was simply a mess.
“Is the upstairs the same way?”
Freya’s mouth thinned. “The bedrooms are exactly as they were when we moved out. Mom’s is messy but yours and ours are perfect, right down to the horse posters above Trinity’s bed.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Me neither.” Freya blew out a small laugh. “She’s put more time and attention into taking care of our old bedrooms than she did to mothering us when we were kids. I thought you might have some insight.”
“Honestly, I feel like I don’t know Mom at all at this point. A lot of that is on me, I guess. I was consumed with my own issues after the divorce. Before that, the rounds of infertility treatments took a toll on my body and my emotions. It’s been a long road back. She seemed like herself, so I didn’t dig any deeper.”
“It’s not your fault,” Freya said, surprising Beth again. “I know how much you gave up when we were younger. I didn’t appreciate it then, but I do now. I’ve seen a lot of messed-up stuff in California. Messed-up people. Believe it or not, I’m fairly well-adjusted compared to a lot of them.”
Beth’s heart gave a little tug. “Freya, you are one of the strongest people I know. You always have been. It drove me crazy, and obviously, it drove Mom crazy, but there was no denying it. You were always going to manage for yourself.”
“You made sure things didn’t go totally off the rails when Mom checked out. I don’t know what would’ve happened to Trinity and me if you hadn’t taken over. Yes, you were way too bossy, but I appreciate it now in a way I couldn’t when we were younger. I’ve seen some real dysfunction, Beth. And I’ve made the most of Mom’s fame in my own way. I should have given you more credit.”
“Thank you. I wish none of us had been put in that position. That we just could have been sisters.”
Freya’s tentative smile looked out of place on her normally self-assured features. “Maybe we can start now.”
The tightness in Beth’s chest loosened ever so slightly. “I’d like that.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“THESTARSAREout in full force tonight.”
Trinity gasped at the sound of the deep male voice in the darkness and took an instinctive step back only to trip over one of the lawn ornaments strewn about her mother’s backyard.
She landed on the grass with a yelp as pain lanced through her ankle.
