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“Talia.” Gabby’s face was in full shell shock.

“You can admit it,” Talia pressed. “You’ve always been angry.”

“How could I beangry? If anything, I’m sad. Sad for her—foranyone—who sees it as their only option. God, Talia. It’s fucked up you’d think that.”

Talia swiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s the logical conclusion. You never mention her. When I bring her up, you become all tense and immediately change subjects.”

Gabby blinked, letting the silence hang as she worked through something. “So, it’s true?” she said at last. “The cancer actually came back?”

Talia’s stomach tumbled. She ran through ten to twelve emotions—surprise and outrage and all the rest, even though part of her had waited years for this question. “You think Dad would lie about that?”

“I didn’t think he’d specifically lie,” Gabby said evenly. “But people are weird about mental illness, and Dad didn’t utter the word ‘cancer’ untilaftershe died.”

“They were separated,” Talia said. She could feel the thrumof her heart in her ears. “God. I’ve always suspected that you and Ozzie somehow blamed me, or assumed I was lying or—”

“Tal.” Gabby placed a hand on Talia’s shoulder. “You were the closest to Mom, and here the entire summer, so if you tell me she was sick, it’s all I need.”

“Oh. Okay. But—”

“Wow.” Gabby released Talia’s arm. “I can’t believe how relieved I am right now.” She shook her head, astonished. “Apparently Iwasskeptical about Mom’s death. Hello! Light bulb moment! We probably should’ve had a bit more therapy, huh? Wild stuff.” She started to walk away.

“Mom loved you so much,” Talia said, and Gabby froze. “I witnessed it firsthand. She was over the moon when you were born. You were such a happy baby, which she bragged about all the time.Sweet Gabby. She never complains!”

“That does sound like me,” Gabby said, her voice raspy and choked.

“For the record, she wanted you around more often. I swear! But Dad always got in the way.”

Gabby went to protest, but Talia refused to allow it. “I wish you’d known her better. When Mom was healthy, she was the best. Loving and creative and fun. And she lacked that...” Talia chewed on this. “That motherly self-consciousness. She rarely cared what other people thought, and always gave the most bizarre yet oddly helpful advice. Stand tall, walk loudly, make an impression.”

“Walk loudly?”Gabby repeated. She turned to face her again, a smile spilling across her cheeks. “Is that why you wear such heavy shoes?”

“No, I—” Talia reconsidered. “I guess it is!” She laughed, and Gabby joined in, and life was sweet for a second, until they were stopped by the sound of someone screeching their names.

“Basketball?”Mindy said, stomping in their direction, rattlesnake stick in hand. “You people will do anything aside from work. Oh, man.” She cackled. “It’s been quite a week, huh?”

“It’s Monday morning,” Gabby said.

“I know, right?”

“What’s going on?” Talia said as panic fluttered in her chest.

Mindy laughed again, and a look passed over her face. A barely concealed smirk, or maybe indigestion. “I could tell you, but it’s more fun if you see for yourself.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ozzie

His sisters, they were not stoked. They stood there on the other side of the pool like they’d been knocked on the head. Ozzie hadn’t expected a celebration or anything, but they could’ve faked some enthusiasm. Hadn’t Gabby majored in theater during her illustrious two to three months of college?

As always, it was up to him to break the ice. “Ladies. What’s with all the gawping? It’s like you’ve seen a celebrity.” Ozzie chuckled. “I guess you have. Come on.” He spread his arms. “Get over here and give your baby brother a hug.”

Gabby moved first, bolting to his side and collapsing into his arms in what could only be described as a slump. “Are you mad?” she asked as she pulled back.

“It was pretty shady...”

“Ugh!” Gabby covered her face. “I know. You must’ve flown out here the second you saw the article.”

Ozzie smile-grimaced. He’d meantshewas shady about coming to California and not warning him they were getting cut off. Ozzie hoped she’d own up to it eventually. He knew it was a lot to ask.