26

 

Time had run out.

Lily had delayed the inevitable as long as possible, but the sands of the proverbial hourglass had sifted to the bottom. With all her possessions packed into the back of her battered Toyota, Lily watched Chloe through the window of the bus depot as she waited in line at the ticket counter. In a few minutes, Chloe would board that bus and leave Rainbow Falls, possibly for good.

In some ways, Sarah Jane’s timing had been fortuitous. With nothing left to lose, Lily had no reason not to tell her sister the truth. And if everyone hated her for doing so, well, no one could hate her more than she hated herself. She counted on family ties to win out in the end, and that once Chloe got over the initial shock, she’d want a connection with her only sibling.

Her resolve set, Lily stepped out of her car. The wind whipped about her, tearing at her hair and jacket as she walked across the street to the bus station, where Sonia, Maxi, and probably Nick would all be waiting to see Chloe off.

Her stomach dipped, imagining how upset Nick and Sonia would be when she told Chloe. She forced her thoughts from that painful scenario as her sister emerged from the depot, ticket in hand. Clad in denim shirt and jeans, and her brown hair pulled back with a blue-checkered kerchief, Chloe looked every part the student. Her face lit up when she spotted Lily.

“Oh, thank goodness. I thought you weren’t going to make it.”

“Of course I made it.” Lily hoped her bright smile hid her anxiety. “I wouldn’t let you leave without saying good-bye.”

She looked around, relieved to discover Nick wasn’t there. Only Sonia and Maxi waited on the bright yellow bench under the bus sign. They stood as Lily and Chloe approached.

Lily greeted them both and then stood silent, hands stuffed in the pockets of her jeans. Tension hung in the air between them. Even the unflappable Maxi jiggled nervously from one foot to the other. Sonia watched Lily with an uneasy stare, her eyes red-rimmed from crying.

“Cheer up.” Chloe put her arm around her frail mother. “You’re all acting like this is a funeral. Be happy for me. I’m going to do something I love.”

Sonia sniffed into her hankie. “We are happy for you, dear. We’re just going to miss you terribly, that’s all.”

“Ditto.” Maxi squeezed Chloe’s hand.

Despite the cool wind, Lily’s damp shirt clung to her back. How was she going to drop this bombshell of hers?

“Chloe,” she began, stepping closer. “There’s something I need to tell you before you go.” She forced herself to ignore the terror that leapt into Sonia Martin’s eyes. The strong coffee she’d had this morning curdled in her stomach.

Chloe’s smile faded. “What is it? You look serious.”

Sonia Martin moved between the girls, her cane tapping the sidewalk. “The bus will be here any minute. Surely this can wait for another time.”

Chloe frowned. “Mom, let Lily speak. I’m sure it won’t take long.”

Lord, please give me the right words. Lily ran her tongue over her dry lips, stalling. Even Maxi stared at her with open curiosity.

Just tell her.

At that moment, the Greyhound bus pulled up beside them and ground to a halt in a cloud of exhaust. Chloe’s attention flew to the vehicle, a smile lighting her features. She bent down to pick up her bag.

“Wait, Chloe. Please.” Lily reached out to grasp her arm.

The sound of footsteps approaching turned their attention to Nick walking toward them. Lily stared, unable to look away from the man she loved, knowing this could be the last time she saw him. Her vision blurred as she drank in the sight of his windblown hair and blue eyes shrouded with pain. Her shoulders sagged. His presence made everything she was about to say that much harder.

He stopped beside his aunt and placed his arm around her as if to shield her from what was to come. Lily couldn’t bear the tortured expression on his face.

Chloe flew over to give Nick a huge hug. “You almost missed me. I’m glad you made it.”

He kissed her forehead. “Me, too. You take care of yourself, kiddo. If you ever need anything, call me, day or night.” The sadness in his voice brought a lump to Lily’s throat.

With Chloe gone, the only one he’d have around was his ailing aunt. Thank goodness he’d have his position as minister to keep him busy and help him forget once Lily left.

“I will. I promise.” Chloe hugged him again then spun around. “Oh, Lily. I’m sorry. What did you want to say?”

Lily wavered. Her heart pounded louder than the bus’s engine. With shaky fingers, she toyed with the locket around her neck, running it back and forth along the chain, as her thoughts whirled in rapid succession. Could she bear to see Nick’s disappointment, his silent accusation of betrayal? Did she have the right to rip Chloe and Sonia’s world apart?

She looked into Chloe’s expectant face, a face so full of excitement for the future that she literally shone from the inside out. How could Lily take that away from her?

“I want you to know how much your friendship has meant to me…” The lump in her throat swelled, making it impossible to continue.

Tears appeared in Chloe’s eyes. She closed the gap between them and engulfed Lily in a tight embrace. “I’m the one who should be thanking you after all you’ve done for me. I’m going to miss you so much.”

Chloe pulled back and wiped her face. Lily was astonished to find her own cheeks wet.

Chloe squeezed her hand. “Was that all?”

“No. There’s more.”

She heard Sonia’s sharp intake of breath, sensed Nick’s unspoken plea.

You’re my sister. You’re my sister, and I love you.

At that moment, Nick’s words echoed inside her. “When you really love someone, their happiness becomes more important than your own. You put their best interests first.”

The truth slammed through her, shaking her. Revealing her secret right now was not in Chloe’s best interest. All the pent-up energy drained from Lily, leaving her limp. She couldn’t do it—couldn’t ruin Chloe’s happiness.

As if in slow motion, Lily reached up to pull the gold chain over her head. For a brief moment, she held the locket in her palm, rubbed her thumb in a last caress over the engraved casing, then held it out to Chloe. “I want you to have this…to remember me by.”

Chloe gasped and shook her head. “No, I couldn’t. I know how much that necklace means to you.”

Lily took Chloe’s hand and placed the locket in her palm, curling her fingers closed. “Take it. Please.”

Chloe waited a beat and then finally nodded. With silent tears dripping down her face, she unfolded the chain and slipped it over her head.

“Be happy,” Lily whispered. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Chloe hugged her hard. “You’re like the sister I never had.”

Pain seared through Lily, as sharp and searing as the blade of a knife. She bit her lip to keep from blurting out the truth. Instead, she hung on for dear life, memorizing the smell of Chloe’s citrus shampoo.

The waiting bus driver blared the horn.

“I have to go.” Chloe grabbed her tote bag, hugged Nick, Maxi, and her mother one more time and then leapt onto the bus.

Lily’s bones solidified into one brittle mass. Feeling as though she’d crack if she moved a hair, she prayed for the strength to hold herself together until the bus moved away. Long enough to get away from Nick and Maxi. She was about to fall apart, and she would do it in private.

She raised her hand in one last wave as the bus rumbled off. Aware of the eyes on her, she made an abrupt turn toward her car and stumbled ahead a few feet until the sight before her stopped her cold. Her heart—the one that had pounded only seconds ago—now stilled in horror.

A police car pulled up to the curb beside her. From behind the wheel, Mike Hillier’s mouth formed a grim line. She looked past him into the passenger seat where the burning gaze of her father stared back at her.

Mike unfolded himself from the driver’s door. Adjusting his belt and holster, he stepped toward her, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

“Hello, Lily. I’m afraid I have to inform you that you’re under arrest.”