Cole as if inviting them to chime in with their opinions.
“I know, but I’m still—”
“Questioning yourself?” Skye asked sympathetically.
I nodded, relieved that she got it.
“Hell, no,” Tess exclaimed. “No. No. Absolutely not. We won’t let you do that.”
“Jesus!” Cole exclaimed. “I was going to order a beer, but I need something stronger if we’re getting into that. Anyone else?”
Tess clapped her hands. “I’m with you. Something that will inspire me to come up with motivational quotes... but also keep my mind clear.”
“Just water for me,” Skye said. “But I do want some food. I give really bad advice on an empty stomach.”
“You do,” Cole agreed. “How about—”
I interrupted him. “Cole! Don’t hijack our sister’s attention. I still need it on me. All of it.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Heather
Being under my parents’ roof was always a treat, but never more than now. This was like a time capsule from my childhood. They hadn’t changed any of the furniture. I was sitting on one of the neon-orange chairs at the enormous kitchen island. They contrasted starkly with the polar white kitchen. Dad had left early this morning to go to his chess club, as he’d done every day since retiring. Business as usual. Avery was still asleep.
As Mom and I started baking all my favorites—blueberry pancakes, chocolate muffins, and apple tarts—she mentioned that Avery had gotten up briefly this morning to feed Tony, and that she’d seemed very happy.
And just like that, I remembered Avery’s heartbreak yesterday and my eyes started burning. I blinked quickly, hoping to keep the tears at bay. I swallowed hard a few times, breathing through my nose. The burning sensation descended, lodging in my chest. Not even the smell of my mom’s cooking was lessening it.
As if sensing I needed a distraction, she pointed to the oven.
“Want to do a quality control on those?”
“Oh, yes.”
Grabbing a toothpick, I opened the oven door, poking the first few muffins. They were just perfect. My mouth watered with anticipation.
“I know you want to steal one. Go ahead. I’ll pretend I didn’t see,” Mom said.
I jutted out my lower lip. “But half the fun was always sneaking them.”
“Ah, my dear girl. You honestly thought I never counted the muffins?”
I laughed and took out a muffin, biting into it before it had a chance to cool down.
Holy shit, what had I been thinking?
“Heavens, girl, no need to burn your tongue.” Mom handed me a glass of iced tea. I gulped it down as quickly as possible, but the damage was already done. I wouldn’t taste much for the next few days. It was only then that I realized Mom was watching me intently. She hadn’t asked many questions after our conversation on the plane. I’d thought she wanted to give me a chance to get a good night sleep, but she’s been suspiciously quiet this morning. In retrospect, that should have clued me in that something was awry. Mom’s credo was that it was her prerogative to question her daughter as she saw fit—so she could dish advice, whether I wanted it or not.
“Have a seat,” Mom instructed, in the exact tone of voice that usually preceded one of our “serious” talks. I climbed back on one of the orange chairs.
“You shouldn’t stay locked up in the house all morning. You need to go out, enjoy the sun a bit,” she said as she arranged the muffins on a plate.
“I’m not sure what I need. To relax a little, I think. I can’t stop thinking about all the things I need to do back in New York... like pack up the apartment.”
“What’s Ryker got to say on the topic?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t had a chance to talk about it.” I’d emailed my landlord this morning, asking for an extension, and received a no within minutes.
“Listen, Heather, I’m so proud of you, you know. I don’t say it very often, and I’m sorry for that. That was how I was raised, but I should tell you more often than I do. You’re a dreamer, and a fighter, and I couldn’t be more proud of you. You didn’t have it easy, but you fought tooth and nail to make New York your home, to give that little girl everything she needs.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I heard what you said last night. You can’t protect Avery from getting upset now and then. You have nothing to be guilty about. You deserve to be happy, Heather. You and Avery. And Ryker is making both of you happy—I’ve never seen you two