Risk (Gentry Boys #2)(84)

“You know, I asked you once if there was anything going on between you and him. Mason. You told me there wasn’t.”

“I lied,” I said flatly.

“You lied,” she nodded. “You’d never lied to me before. I knew you were lying.”

“Wasn’t exactly proud of myself.”

“No, and you shouldn’t have been.” She made a face. “This is wrong. It’s been four years. This isn’t how our reunion should go, Truly.”

“It’s okay. You can ask me anything you want to ask me, Aggie. You can say whatever you need to say to me.”

She looked at me. “You’re so beautiful, Tru. Even more now than you were then. That’s what drove Mama crazy. She was so jealous she couldn’t see straight and you didn’t even realize it. Carrie and I knew. Mia was always lost in herself. But you never knew, did you?”

I did. Somehow I always did. Somewhere around the time I turned thirteen it seemed she stopped looking at me altogether, like the sight of me hurt her too much.

“You think you’ll ever see her again, Tru?” She shook her head. “Never mind. She’d just hang up on you if you called.”

“She didn’t hang up,” I said quietly.

Aggie looked at me in surprise.

I swallowed and explained. “I got her number from Carrie. I called her yesterday morning.” I tried to remember every word of that brief conversation with the woman who’d birthed me, raised me, and then dismissed me. “I wouldn’t say it was a heartfelt mother daughter chat and I suspect we won’t be talking again. But she did tell me that she hoped I would always have more pretty days than ugly ones.”

Aggie closed her eyes. “Laura always did care too damn much about being pretty.”

“I don’t think she meant it like that. I think it was Laura Lee’s way of saying that she cared on some level. I’m sorry, Aggie.” A tear fell down my cheek. “I’m sorry I left and didn’t look back. I was lost, little sister. I didn’t know how I would take care of myself, let alone the child inside of me.”

Aggie let out a gasp. She put her hand over her mouth. As I kept talking my sister’s eyes filled with tears. I told her everything.

“I knew it was a girl even though they said they couldn’t tell. For a while I thought I could start over and give her all the things I never had. It wasn’t until the labor pains hit and I looked around at the shabby single room I was living in. It was dirty and people screamed outside every night. I realized I couldn’t give her anything but more of the same life I’d always known. It was a tough labor and they wound up having to cut her out of my belly. I never held her, Aggie. I never wanted to. Not because I had no love for her, but because I knew it was the best thing I could do. So I signed where they told me to sign and then three days later I left that hospital alone. I couldn’t be Laura Lee. I knew if I tried to keep her then I would be.”

Aggie wiped her eyes and was quiet. Several minutes passed and then she looked me in the eye. “You listen to me, Truly. You could never be Laura. You hear that? You believe it? Never.” She hung her head. “Dammit, I wish you’d told me.”

“I know. But I’m telling you now.”

“I was always so wrapped up in thinking about how hard it was for me, picking Laura up off the floor, trying to be there for Mia and Carrie. I was mad at you, Truly. I had no right to be mad at you. You were surviving the best you could.” Her voice cracked. “I’m sorry.”

“So am I, Aggie. So am I.”

She sighed and laced her arm firmly through mine. “Promise we won’t lose each other again?”

“I promise. Love you, Augusta.”

“Love you too, Tallulah.”

After that, Aggie wanted to hear about Creed and I wanted to hear about Eric. We didn’t quite pick up where we’d left off four years ago. It would take time to overcome the shyness of our long separation. We also had to adjust to the people we’d become in the meantime. I desperately hoped that one day I would somehow be with all three of my sisters again.

When Eric and Creed returned it seemed like they’d gotten along just fine. Creed had opted for the passenger seat this time and as he climbed out he was grumbling.

“I’m still itchy as shit.”

Eric laughed. “I warned you not to sit on that hay.”

“Well let’s have a round of applause for Mr. I Told You So.”

“You guys are cute,” I teased them.

Eric smiled broadly. “I’m cuter. Just look at him. He’s got a messed up face and a gimpy leg.”

“Stop it,” Aggie laughed.

Eric pulled her playfully up from the curb. “Keep telling me what to do, darlin’. I like it.”

Aggie and Eric showed us around Stillwater for a little while. I would have liked to stay for much longer but we needed to get back to Tempe. Creed wanted to make sure Chase was all right and I needed to get back to work.

Before we left I hugged my sister for a long time. We vowed to see each other soon and to talk at least once a week. Then I left her with Eric and allowed Creed to lead me back to my car.

I stretched up to kiss him. “Let’s go home.”

“Of course,” he grinned.

I was tired. I was happy. And this time I didn’t argue with Creedence when he insisted on driving.