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I groan but do as he asks. It’s a journal and a little wooden bookmark that I’m sure he carved.

Lexie,

Week three and I’m getting into the thick of things with my treatment. I’m not going to lie, it sucks. There’s a lot of stuff I’d rather not face, but know I need to. For myself, but also for you. I want to be the best man I can be for both of us. I’m a little sad you haven’t written to me, but I understand. No pressure.

Now to this week’s gift. Sometimes I see you staring off into space, and I wonder what you’re thinking about. You seem so far away. Lost even. Maybe writing would help you. It’s one of the things that we do here in treatment. I have the exact same journal … I sneaked an extra one for you. Don’t worry, though. I’ll never ask you to show me what you write inside it. It’s just for you.

Anyhow, it’s almost group time, so I have to go. Please give it a try. It can’t hurt, can it? Sometimes it’s nice to get all the stuff out of your head.

Missing you,

Ash

Dirk stares at me as I lay the letter on the table.

“I wish every one of you would quit wasting your time with me.” I look away.

“Saving souls is not a waste of time. We’re not going to let you fail, Lexie.”

Chapter Eight

Lexie

Ifollow Jesse around as she paints little scenes around the property. She’s currently painting a rabbit with long ears onto a random rock.

“Why is Raffe coming? You’re not going to leave, are you?” My voice cracks, and I hate that.

“I’m not leaving.” She continues to paint.

“Then why is he coming? I think two babysitters is plenty.”

She stands up to stretch. “We’re not here to babysit you. You’re old enough to take care of yourself. We know that.”

I laugh out loud. “I’m just shitty at it.”

“You don’t talk very kindly to yourself,” she notes while swishing her brush in a jar, turning the water a muddy gray color.

“You’re avoiding my question.”

Jesse walks over and sits down beside me. “Dirk and I think Raffe will be able to relate to you. I mean, not that we don’t. Shit, both of us practically raised ourselves. In fact, my husbandhad parents just like yours. They were more worried about their careers than the family they created.”

“I’ve never wanted for anything.”

“I know that, but kids need more than material things.”

When I remain quiet, she points at the rock she’s painting. “My granddaughter is intoAlice and Wonderlandright now. I’m trying to create a little magic for her. We try to come up with our daughter, Billie Rose, and her family as often as we can, but life gets busy. It’s been a while since we’ve been here.”

“Where does everyone sleep?” I ask. Jesse and Dirk have been sleeping on the couch bed downstairs, and I’ve been in the queen bed upstairs. The cabin is actually pretty small.

She laughs lightly. “We manage. It gets a little crowded when my sister and her bunch join us, but it’s nice too. We all bring sleeping bags and push the furniture to the wall. I love having so many people around me. It makes up for how alone I felt as a child.”

I nod. “You’re lucky.”

“I am,” she agrees. Her gaze roams over the mountains. “I got a call from Ash this morning,” she says quietly.

My heart starts beating fast.

“He said to tell you not to worry. He hasn’t opened the letters.”