Page 9 of Always a Chance
I smiled at my sister’s picture as I pulled my buzzing phone out of my pocket and answered without looking at the screen. “Talia Hillson speaking.”
“Talia, I’m glad I caught you.” Mr. Irons. Of course.
“I haven’t gotten the interview yet if that’s what you’re wondering.” It had only been two days.
“No, no, you have time. I’m just checking on your progress. This is a big deal, you know.” He paused. “And… well, have you checked social lately?”
That didn’t sound good. “No.”
“I always tell you to keep an eye on the platforms, honey.”
My jaw clenched at the condescending tone, but I let it slide, reminding myself that he was my boss, that it was a part of the job. “Don’t we hire people for that?” The paper had two social media managers.
“Yes, but if you paid attention, you’d see Trinity was spotted in the city last night.”
“New York?” That was impossible. And how did he… The woman from the book. I’d always wondered if that truly worked. In the back of each Trinity book was a picture of a beautiful woman who I knew wasn’t the author. She occasionally did appearances, never giving interviews, and I knew why.
If anyone dug deep enough, they’d know she wasn’t who she claimed to be.
But were any of us, really?
“I have a meeting with Trinity in her hometown this week,” I lied. “I’ll get you the in-depth feature.”
“You better. Remember what’s riding on this.”
My job. My reputation and dreams of making it as a journalist. How could I forget?
A frame I didn’t recognize caught my eye at the end of the hall, where it curved into the stair landing. I bid my goodbyes to Mr. Irons and ended the call before he could respond.
Inching closer, it was obvious how new this picture was. There were no chips in the silver plating of the frame, no wear on the image. In it, Dad had his arm around Gianna, and the two of them smiled like we all used to, like he hadn’t with me in many years.
My dad never forgave me for anything that happened before I left. And in the decade since, we’d seen each other so little there was never a chance to work through our shared grief. He blamed me, not because I took anything from him, but because I didn’t protect my sister when it mattered most.
I wasn’t there for her.
Dad did the best he could as a single father, but he’d never thought it was enough. Now, I wondered if maybe it was only me who wasn’t enough.
A lock clicked seconds before the front door opened. Dad’s heavy steps lumbered up the ramp, and he stopped in the doorway. His face showed no expression when he saw me. There was nothing there. No joy, no excitement. I’d even have preferred anger to a blank canvas that refused to fill with color.
A buzz I recognized came from behind him. “Dad,” Gianna said. “Go inside.”
Dad stepped out of the way to let Gianna’s motorized wheelchair pass. The moment she came into view, a high-pitched squeal nearly burst my eardrums. “Tali! Tali!” She clapped her hands together. “You’re here.”
Ignoring my dad, I bent to look Gianna in the face. “I’m here.”
Her fingers found my arms and pulled me down into a hug. The moment I wrapped my arms around her, the world shifted and everything felt right once more. Even if I failed at getting the interview, if I lost my job, I’d never regret visiting my favorite person in the world.
When I pulled back, tears danced in her eyes. “Why were you away so long?”
Because no one wanted me here. Because when I set foot in Gulf City, the guilt nearly ate me alive. She wouldn’t understand either of those excuses. Not because she wasn’t smart. My sister was the most brilliant person I knew. But the brain damage she suffered ten years ago left her paralyzed from the waist down and with permanent damage to her memory and mental development.
I hugged her again instead of answering, wishing I could shield her from the world. “Where’s Milo?”
A laugh hiccupped out of her. “He hates you.”
He could join the club. My dad wasn’t the only one who didn’t want me in the house. Gianna’s cat was a grumpy old man who didn’t like anyone getting close to her.
I looked back over my shoulder to realize my dad no longer stared at me. Instead, he wasn’t there at all. Welcome home to me. Brushing him from my mind, I rested a hand on Gianna’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go so you can catch me up on everything I missed in your life since I last saw you.”
