When I met his gaze, he smiled. “I’m here for you in any way you need me.”
“I know.” I sighed. “I think what’s bothering me most is how my family has acted this whole time.” My mind flipped through the pages of my life since I found Celia in bed with Kyle —and several chapters before that. “I’ve always let them get away with bad behavior. That started way before Kyle came into my life.”
Drew intertwined his fingers with mine. The warmth of his palm was always a steady anchor.
I continued voicing my thoughts. “I think I wanted their love so badly I convinced myself that the way Mom and Celia treated me—and Dad ignoring me—was normal. No daughter—or self-respecting woman—should have to beg for scraps of affection.”
His fingers tightened in a light squeeze of support.
I laughed, but it came out bitter. “You didn’t even know I had a dad until he showed up here. He’s such a non-presence in my life.”
Drew chuckled with me. “Accurate. I did wonder if he existed.”
“I’m tired of trying to win favor with people who don’t love me.” Tears filled my eyes, hot and unexpected. “In the short time I’ve spent with your family, they’ve given me more kindness and acceptance than mine has in my whole life.”
Now I finally knew what it felt like to be seen. To be valued for just existing.
“They think you’re pretty great too,” he reminded me.
I sniffed as tears spilled down my cheeks. The ache burning in my chest was a combination of grief and letting go. I let myself feel the disappointment—that they couldn’t love me, couldn’t see my worth.
And now it was too late. I was done trying.
Drew pulled me awkwardly across the console into his arms. “Babe.”
“It’s okay,” I mumbled against his shoulder. “I needed to release this before we went in. It’s cathartic.”
“If you say so.” He didn’t sound fully convinced.
I leaned back and swiped my fingers under my eyes, checking my makeup in the visor mirror. After drawing in a deep breath, I nodded. “Let’s do this.”
By the time we climbed up the steps and reached the front door, Glamma had already sprung it wide open. She tugged me into a fierce embrace. “Oh, sweetheart. You just say the word and I’ll make their lives very uncomfortable. Iknowpeople.” She pulled back and winked. “Well, Iknewpeople, hypothetically speaking, of course, that may or may not have had ties to a former crime family that operated in Rhode Island.”
I grinned and kissed her cheek, warmth flooding through me. “Your hypothetical secret is safe with me. But no—I think him living unhappily-ever-after with my sister is a better punishment.”
Glamma released me, threw back her head, and laughed. “Oh, I do love the way your mind works, dear.”
Drew hugged her and asked, “What are you doing here?”
She let out a long-suffering sigh. “Martha needed help serving the guests. Though between you and me, I suggested adding a little something extra to their plates—to speed things along digestively speaking—and she said it might be ‘construed as assault.’” Glamma made air quotes with her fingers. “Where’s the fun in playing by the rules?”
I laughed and linked my arm through hers once she and Drew separated. “I’d rather you weren’t arrested defending my honor.”
“Well, when you put it that way …” She patted my hand. “But for the record, that family of yours doesn’t deserve you. And I also happen to be good friends with the chief of police.”
Hearing her say it out loud unraveled some of the hurt I’d felt that, before coming to Ruby River, no one else had noticed.
“I thought I heard voices!” Celia practically floated into the room, all smiles and gracious hostess energy. “So nice of you to finally show up, sis.”
Deep breath. You can do this.
I shrugged. “Where is everyone?”
“We’re out on the back patio. Dad’s cousins and their kids are here. And so is Auntie Betty and the wedding party. Small and intimate, just the way I like it.”
I frowned. That was the exact opposite of how Celia liked anything. I opened my mouth to point that out, but then the cameraman rounded the corner. “Can’t wait to see everyone.”
I might be done with my family, but I didn’t need to be painted as the villain on camera.
