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Charlie shivered and went to get a warm woolen scarf to wrap around her.She glimpsed her reflection in the full-length mirror on the closet door.Losing her mother had done a number on her, and all the stress had made her appear gaunt.She’d only been able to stomach half her food since this nightmare began.Sometimes, she’d be nauseous; other times, she’d get full too quickly.Her insides always felt as though they were filled with rocks the size of boulders, and those boulders were rapidly turning into a monolith.

Charlie’s life had changed entirely in a matter of weeks.She’d lost her mother, gained a father, and broken up with her long-term boyfriend.Any one of those crises on its own would have ramped up her anxiety, but all three together made her wonder how she’d ever get through it.The world was no longer safe, and she didn’t know if it ever would be again.

To top it all off, Rick wasn’t going away quietly.He’d been texting constantly, asking her where to find various items in his house.Charlie figured it was an excuse to talk to her, but she still tried to help.The eighth time he texted, she told him he’d have to find the hammer himself.She knew she had made the right decision, but she needed someone other than her sisters to vent to.

Charlie stood up, her legs weak and unsteady like a newborn giraffe’s.She sat back down.

Would it be so bad if I called Rick?There were times he could be so supportive.No, that would be a bad idea.She got her phone from the side table, pulled up all her contacts, and studied them.I could call Susan, Cayla, Jill, or Lori,she thought as she scrolled through a long list of friends.But they didn’t know my mom well, and I’ve never told them anything about my father.I could post something on Facebook asking for advice, but that would probably look deranged.

Charlie always called her mom when she was in a bad place.Charlie’s fingers hovered over the buttons, and the next thing she knew, she heard a gruff, condescending voice on the other end.

“I knew you’d change your mind,” Rick said with what Charlie could tell was a satisfied tone in his voice.

What have I done?

“Charlie, say something,” Rick said.“It’s okay, I forgive you.”Charlie’s vocal cords had gone on strike.“Just admit you love me and can’t live without me,” he said.“You know it was a bad idea to break up with me.We can continue like this was a small blip in our relationship.”

Charlie finally found her voice.“Sorry, butt dial.”She hung up and put her hand on her chest, then smacked herself in the head.“You idiot,” she said, then laughed in embarrassment.If she told her sisters she’d called Rick, they’d take her phone away as if she were a misbehaving child.

She dragged herself into the living room.Abby was on the couch reading their mother’s emails.

“Hey,” Charlie said.

“Hey.”

“Where’s Morgan?”

“She took Albert for a walk.”

“You’re sure that wasn’t an excuse to go to another bar?”

“Not unless Albert has taken up drinking,” Abby said.

Morgan opened the front door, with Albert panting so hard he couldn’t walk over the threshold.She leaned down, picked him up, and carried him into the living room, where he fell in a heap.

“He looks drunk to me,” Charlie said to Abby.

Morgan reached down, unhooked Albert’s leash, and filled his water bowl.Albert didn’t move, so Morgan put her hands on his collar and gently tried to get him to go with her.Albert still didn’t move, as his body had melted into the floor.Morgan gave in, picked up the water bowl, brought it to him, and placed it under his mouth.

“While I was out, I started thinking there’s not a lot more we can do here,” Morgan said.“It’s time we go home to our own lives.”

“I agree,” Charlie said.“I need to get back to my clients before they decide they’re mentally healthy.”

The tags on Albert’s collar, clinking against the bowl, echoed throughout the room.

“I want to see my kids and relieve Alex,” Abby said.“He’ll be happy to have me back for several reasons.I can list four off the top of my head.”

“That husband of yours is a saint,” Morgan said.

Abby nodded.“I know, right?”

Morgan and Charlie got on their laptops to make their travel plans.After Charlie’s flight was booked, she contacted her clients to tell them she would be back in her office in two days.Next, she started looking for condos for sale.Her current home held too many memories of Rick, and she needed a fresh start.

CHAPTER 35

Abby

Abby’s homecoming was filled with happy tears.All four of the kids were up waiting for her.They were afraid that if they went to sleep, she would be gone when they woke up.This broke Abby’s heart, and she assured them she would be there in the morning.