Page 67 of Rekindle My Heart

“Mine broke. This one was Sarah’s.” She hesitated before giving it a whirl. Joy she’d forgotten filled her as her hips moved in time with the hoop.

“You still got it.” Her father leaned on the now clear bench. “Whatever happened to yours?”

The pink plastic circle slipped out of rhythm and clattered on the floor.

“Sarah left it out, and Mom ran it over.” It was an accident, but she’d cried all night over her toy. Mom wouldn’t buy her a new one. She said Erica hadn’t taken care of her first one. She’d never believed Sarah had left it out. Her mother’s words echoed in her mind. Why would she when she had her own?

She set the hoop in the donations pile and picked up the broom again. Sticky darts of nerves pricked her back. She could feel her father’s gaze on her. She cleared her throat. “So, do you still see Mr. Daniels?”

Way to segue into a new subject. She did an internal head slap.

“I see Dave every now and then. I know their boy, Ryan, is a detective now.”

Her head bobbed for a few seconds before she caught herself and stopped. “That’s good. They’re nice people.”

“They are. Their son is as well.” He moved to stand in front of her. His finger brushed her cheek and came away damp.

Shit. Why was she crying?

“Honey. He was your best friend long before his short-lived stint as your sister’s boyfriend.”

She blinked, then wiped her tears with her sleeve. “I know.”

“What your mother said earlier. She was wrong.”

Erica’s brows crinkled. “Sarah loved him.”

“No, she loved being the center of attention.”

She gasped.

“Don’t get me wrong. I loved her as much as I love you. You’re both my favorite daughters.” He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We made mistakes. Your mother and I. But I can’t let you continue to blame that boy for your sister’s selfish act.”

Erica shook her head. “But…”

“No. It wasn’t his rejection that pushed her over the edge.”

She knew that. It was finding her and Ryan together that did it. “Dad, I don’t want to talk about it.”

He searched her face before he nodded. “Just know. She liked to win. And it had nothing to do with love.”

He hugged her, then clamped his hands together. “Well, I think the garage looks good. How about some ice cream?”

Erica forced a smile while acid churned in her stomach. Inhale. Exhale. She repeated the process but wasn’t sure it was working.

She needed to calm down. If not, the dairy would likely curdle in her stomach. And the last thing she wanted was to skip her favorite treat.

She followed him, but her gaze strayed back to the Hula-hoop. He was right. Sarah liked to win. Seeing Erica with Ryan drove her over the edge.

Literally.

hem served for dinner, but he wasn’t about to find out.

Saturday morning, Erica swung by the donation drop-off for the community outreach. She opened the back of her vehicle, slipped the hoop over her shoulder, and pulled out a box of miscellaneous toys from her youth. She was halfway to the door when it opened.

“Erica, let me help you with that.” Liz Garcia took the box from her hands.

“Thanks. Are you running errands today as well?”