Help Me Remember (Rose Canyon, #1)(19)

“You know you are.” No point in denying it. I move back to the bed, sitting on the edge.

Spencer’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “You are a hot mess as well.”

I’m going to hold on to that comment forever.

Now I need to move onto safer ground. “It doesn’t feel real to me,” I tell him. “Even after the funeral, I can’t really believe he’s gone. Maybe it’s because I don’t know anything right now, but it’s surreal and not in a good way.”

Spencer sits beside me. “It doesn’t feel real to me either.”

“I loved him so much, you know?”

“I do, and he really did love you. I don’t feel like I’m telling you anything you don’t already know, but he would’ve done anything for you.”

No, he’s not telling me anything I don’t know. Isaac was the best brother that ever existed. Sure, we bickered here and there, but mostly, we were best friends. “If Addy leaves, I really don’t know how I’m going to get through this.”

“I think she has to. Since losing him, she’s lost herself. If she can get a break, get herself together, it may be the best thing for her and Elodie.”

“Selfishly, I want her to stay, but I’m sure it’s what she needs to do.”

He links his fingers through mine. “Selfishly, we all want things, but doing what is best for the other person is what love is.”

I smile a little, looking up at him. “Like helping your best friend’s sister try to remember her life?”

Spencer forces his lips into a grin and then stands. “Like that. Come on, I think we should head over to Addison’s and then make our plan for part one of this.”

“Oh, there are parts?”

“Yeah, and I’m not sure you’re going to like them.”

I groan and mutter as I follow him out. “Boy, that seems to be the reoccurring theme in my life.”





Chapter Seven





BRIELLE





Elodie is asleep in my arms as Addison walks around her room, packing a bag. “You’re sure this is what you want?” I ask, staring down at the baby.

Spencer ended up dropping me off here and heading to the hotel to help my mother pack her car. There was a fire at the store, and she needs to get on the road. She was going to leave soon anyway, but it still sucks.

“No. I’m not sure, but I know that I can’t stay here right now,” Addy says, pulling a shirt from the drawer.

“I understand. It’s all happening so fast.”

Addy gives me a sad smile. “I know. I thought Mom would stay for at least a few more days, but she needs to deal with the insurance.”

“You really don’t think the fact that her store had a fire is related to Isaac and me?” I ask.

“The investigator down there didn’t seem to think so. He said it appears to be the coffee maker that was plugged in, not arson.”

“Just weird,” I say, staring at Elodie. She’s so damn perfect. I may not remember much, but I know I love her already. “It’s going to be really hard losing you, Addy. There’s nothing I could say to make you change your mind?” What was starting off as a week or two is now open-ended.

It feels so selfish to ask, but Addison is not only my sister-in-law but also my friend. I am a little light on friends lately.

“I haven’t slept in almost two weeks. I can’t eat. I cry all the damn time. I went to take Elodie for a walk, just to get out of the house, and I was stopped eight times by people who wanted to tell me a story about Isaac and how sad they were. And don’t even get me started on the letters and the calls.”

Her tears cause my own to form. “I’m so sorry, Addy. I understand, and I shouldn’t have asked you to stay.”

She comes to me, hands framing my face. “Don’t cry. Please. I’m just telling you why I think a few weeks or maybe a month out of here will do me good. I’ll visit with Devney, and it will give me a change of pace and a chance to grieve without the whole town watching me.”

All of that makes sense, but I wish it weren’t necessary. “I love you, you know that, right?”

“And I love you. I think it’ll be good for you too, Brie.”

“For my sister and niece to leave?”

She nods. “You are dealing with so much, and I don’t want to add pressure on you.”

“You’re not. Trust me. I have enough of it on my own.”

Addison looks to Elodie and sighs. “Do you know how hard it is not to tell you everything that I know so that you’ll remember something? All I want is for you to give us answers, and that’s not possible. It’s not fair either. My going will allow all of us some time to breathe a little and hopefully heal.”

“I know what you’re saying, and I understand. Really, I do. I’m just being selfish, I guess. I lost my brother, the belief I was with the right guy, my memories, the life I was living, and now you’re leaving. The only thing I have right now is this insane plan to re-walk my life.”

Addy brushes her fingers against Elodie’s cheek. “The one thing I’ve always been so envious of is your ability to make a choice and live by it. I know you feel lost, but trust your instinct because I’ve never seen it lead you astray.”