Fearless, Abby Brooks [leveled readers .txt] 📗

“He’s leaving tomorrow, first thing. He’ll be gone for weeks.”

“I better get a move on, then.”

Amelia looked up from the book, eyes wide. “You’re going to Wildrose tonight?” Izzy echoed the question.

“I have to.” I shrugged. “I have to see him and at least thank him and I have to do it before I think better of it so yeah. I’m going to Wildrose tonight.”

Chapter Forty-One

Alex

My phone rang with a call from Izzy. We hadn’t talked as much as we used to since Evie left. I assumed she was mad at me for chasing away her new friend. She had every right to feel that way. I was mad at me for chasing Evie away. I accepted the call.

“Alexander Prescott.”

I flinched from the gravitas in her voice. This was not the traditional family greeting of bellowing each other’s names from the entry. Her greeting dripped with accusation. Disappointment. I wasn’t in the mood.

I sighed. “Speaking.”

“Did you Harry and the Henderson’s Evie?”

“I’m sorry.” I pinched my brow. “Did I what?”

“Harry and the Henderson’s. That stupid movie mom used to make us watch when we were kids. Remember the part when John Lithgow thought Harry would be better off without him so he said terrible things and hit Harry to make him leave?”

I did remember the movie and that was exactly what I did, but discussing it would do more harm than good. “I’m sorry, Izzy. I’m drawing a complete and utter blank here.”

“No. You’re being obstinate to keep me from reaching my point, but never fear, we share the same genes, which means I can be every bit as stubborn as you. You made Evie think you were an asshole to make her leave.”

I huffed a breath, crossed my arms over my chest, and shuffled into the kitchen.

Izzy loosed a dramatic sigh. “You did! You giant, self-absorbed idiot!”

“Self-absorbed?” I stopped and leaned my head against the wall. “I literally chased away the woman I loved so she wouldn’t suffer the way Mom did.”

“The way Mom did?” Genuine confusion tightened Izzy’s words.

In the biggest infodump of all infodumps, I dropped it all on my sister. My realization that I was just like Dad. Candace’s accusations. Mom’s revelation. “It all hit home one night while Evie and I were at dinner. She was just sitting there, at the table, basically alone even though I was across from her. I was ignoring her because I was working, after I vowed never to be like that.”

“You think you’re just like Dad.”

“I know I’m just like Dad.”

“Then you know nothing, Alex Prescott. You stop in to see me every day, or at least you used to before you chucked your life in the garbage.”

“Yeah, for genius nuggets.” I did my best to smile.

“Bullshit just for genius nuggets. You make sure I have what I need, stop and talk with me, ask me if I need help with anything. You take the time to cultivate a relationship with me, your sister, because it’s important to you. Dad wouldn’t do that.”

“Yeah, but…”

“You visit mom every day. You sit with her while she goes on about her social circles and nail polish choices even though you don’t care two hoots about any of that. You aren’t a surface level guy, but you are for her, because you know she needs that. Dad wouldn’t do that.”

I stared at me feet and searched for something to say.

“You adopted Morgan and I have never met a more spoiled dog in my life. He’s sweet, but come on, this dog gets daily walks on the beach because he loves the water. And your cat? The one that’s now living with Evie? I don’t even know when you got him, but have you ever met a more loving feline? Let me break it to you, cats don’t come like that out of the box. They have to be shown love to give love. Dad would make an asshole out of a cat. You didn’t. You’re nothing like our father.”

“But I ignored Evie in favor of work.”

“Did she care?”

The question took me off guard. “What?”

“Did she care?” Izzy carefully enunciated the question.

“Of course she cared…” The image of her sad face at Overton’s popped into my head.

“She said this to you. She said, ‘you’re spending too much time at work and I resent it.’”

“No. But Evie wouldn’t say—”

“Stop talking for a minute and listen to me. Evie’s a writer. My guess is, knowing her, she completely understood you needed to disappear into your work because she has to do the same thing. The only way I see you being just like dad in this situation is because you decided you knew what was best for everyone involved and acted on it.”

I looked at the dog who stared at me like the sun rose and set on my shoulders. I thought of all the time I spent making sure Mom didn’t feel alone. Every time I put my notes away to spend time with Evie. The daily walks with Morgan and laser pointer marathons with Larry.

“Maybe you’re right,” I practically whispered. “Maybe I’m not like Dad.”

“Ya think?” Izzy huffed a laugh. “You don’t sound super convinced.”

“I’m only overcoming years’ worth of programming and negative self-talk, so pardon me if it takes some time to adjust to this wicked about-face in the way I see myself.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Have you talked to Evie lately?”

“I have. She finished her book. All in all, she’s doing well.”

She’s doing well. I smiled to hear it.

“She read your book, Alex.” Warmth spread through Izzy’s voice. “It left her a little gobsmacked, but she loved it.”

If Evie read the book and hadn’t reached out, then she must not have seen what I’d hoped she’d see. I tried to smile, but it felt like my heart was breaking in half. Like I’d failed in my mission. I checked my watch. I had to meet my agent in an hour and I was