Chapter Thirty-One #2
of emotions that came with this kind of reunion. “I can’t even describe what it feels like not to have that burden anymore.
How clearheaded I feel, like I just broke out of a nightmare.”
“I’m glad, Ruth,” Eve whispered. “I’m so glad. Good for you. I’m proud of you.”
Her sister lifted her hand, hesitated, then reached over to hold Eve’s.
All Eve could do was stare at their clasped hands, wondering if they’d ever done that before. If so, the displays of affection
must have been when she was really little, because she had no memory of them.
“Eve.”
“Yes?”
“I’m the one who is proud of you.” Ruth let that statement hang between them. “We were never very close and I regret that, but that didn’t stop you from stepping up for me at a moment’s notice. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
Oh god, she was going to take Lark and Landon.
Eve could see it coming.
The overwhelming wave of sorrow made her feel so guilty, but she couldn’t control it. Not now. Not with everything else going
on.
“There’s a place down in North Carolina . . .” started her sister, prompting Eve to make a harsh, involuntary sound. Ruth
only squeezed her hand tighter, as if she understood what her return was costing Eve. “It’s housing for single mothers like
me. They help care for the kids, help women get on their feet and find a job—and there’s built-in treatment.” She blew out
a breath. “I need to go, Eve. I want this. I don’t want to mess up again, and this is the best way to ensure that doesn’t
happen. Best way to make sure I can be with my kids. Clean.”
Eve nodded vigorously. “I understand. I do.”
“They’re going to miss you, but we will visit. Or you’ll visit us.” Ruth used their joined hands to turn Eve’s face, so they were eye to eye. “The goal is to end
up back in Cumberland. I want them to grow up near their famous aunt.”
A little jolt took place in Eve’s belly. “You saw the news.”
“I did.” Ruth studied her. “I also got your voicemail from the day you married Madden. I guess I wasn’t surprised when you
admitted to loving him.” Her attention dropped to Eve’s abdomen, her scar tingling beneath the scrutiny. “You wouldn’t have
sacrificed so much for him unless you did.”
It hadn’t felt like a sacrifice. More like a blessing to reach into the depths of her feelings for Madden and find an offering.
To replace the words she couldn’t say out loud. “Yes. I do love him very much.”
“Do I sense a but coming?”
“No buts. Our love is just a complicated business.”
Ruth nodded, remaining quiet for a few extra beats. “Listen, Eve. You’re in the middle of something hard and I don’t want
to add to it, but the timing . . . it’s just timing. I was going to take a few days to visit with the kids, make my way back
to them slowly, and give you a chance to say a long goodbye.” She paused. “But I thought it might be for the best if we kept
the twins out of the media limelight you’ve got on you right now. These people seem kind of aggressive. The last thing I want
is to have that limelight include me. You don’t need that on top of everything else.”
If that didn’t prove they were sisters cut from the same cloth, Eve didn’t know what did. She wanted to feel resentment toward
the legions of people clicking on harmful articles and the slander artists embellishing the truth, but she didn’t have the
energy. Her ability to fight had all but flatlined in the relief of seeing her sister healthy. In the sadness of knowing her
time with Lark and Landon was over. But she needed to make one thing clear.
“You know, no matter what they printed, I’d be proud of you, Ruth. Okay?” Eve took a halting breath. “Never ashamed. Not for
a second.”
Ruth gave her a watery look. “Same goes.”
“Good” was all Eve could muster up. “Should we go see the kids and explain everything?”
“Yes, please.” Her sister swiped at her eyes. “I can’t believe I haven’t held my babies in six weeks.”
“They missed you too. Believe me.” Eve swallowed hard. “When you get a chance, make some meatballs with Landon. Okay?”
“I can’t wait.”
Both sisters stood, turned, and walked slowly up the steps. “I might be returning them with slightly dirtier mouths and for that I apologize.”
Veda opened the door before Eve got the chance, her interested gaze bouncing between the sisters. “Uh, Eve. I’m sorry to interrupt.”
She held up her phone, shaking it a little. “Is now a bad time to tell you Full Bush Rhonda called in sick tonight?”
“Full Bush who?” exclaimed her sister.
Eve never got a chance to explain because the twins came barreling out into the open at the sound of their mother’s voice,
throwing themselves into her waiting arms, each of them promptly bursting into tears of joy. And it was one of the most beautiful
sights Eve could remember witnessing and one she would carry with her for a lifetime. But she could also feel a dramatic shift
happening inside her.
A perfect collision of grief, relief, and fear.
The pressure of holding it together too long.
The total lack of control of her own situation. The theft of her privacy.
Everyone in this town and now the world believed her to be something she wasn’t, and she couldn’t do anything about that,
could she?
Unless . . .
She could find a way to reclaim her own story.
Take back control.
Show everyone they couldn’t dictate her shame if she refused to feel any.
Eve looked at Veda. “No worries. I’ll take her spot.”