Page 71 of The Lies I Told
“Okay.”
Business settled, he relaxed back in his chair. “Speaking of Marisa, how’s she doing? She looks good.”
“She’s getting stronger every day. She was always the toughest of our lot.”
“What about her memory?”
“Other than the missing days, fine.”
“Still no idea how she had the car accident?”
“I think she had a slip,” I said. “She says she wasn’t using, but I don’t believe her. Even a little can make her paranoid. The problem is she’ll never be totally well until she admits her mistakes.”
“Good luck with that. She never acknowledges it when she’s wrong.”
“I’m not pressing. She’s still fragile.” Marisa had insisted on going to the doctor alone today, and I hadn’t liked the idea at all. She needed a second set of ears. But I knew my sister well enough to know direct assaults weren’t effective.
“You like her best this way, don’t you?” Jack asked.
“What way?”
“Fragile. You two always butted heads when she was firing on all cylinders.”
“That might’ve been true, but I want to see my sister healthy, whole, and thriving.”
“I remember how you fussed over her and Clare in high school. They were both sick a lot, and you were always coming to their rescue.”
“All the doctors said it was stress. They needed me.”
“You were their real mom.”
That was why I’d never been in a rush to have children. I’d already raised two. “I loved them both.”
He eyed me. “We all knew how obsessed you were with your sisters. Didn’t think you’d ever find the time for a man in your life. How’d you meet David?” Jack asked.
“In the hospital after Marisa’s accident.”
“An odd place to find love. But even flowers grow up through the rocks, right?”
Jack’s curiosity over David was puzzling. He wasn’t the jealous type, and he didn’t get that attached to anyone. “That’s what I say.”
“What’s David’s deal? What does he do for a living?”
It felt odd to be talking about my love life with an ex. But better than more endless talk of Jo-Jo and how much he loved her. “Stock trader. Lived in New York, came down here last year. Originally from California.”
“Bring him by the bar. I’ll treat you two to dinner. I didn’t have time to talk to him at Marisa’s party, and I’d like to get to know the guy who has captured your heart. We can double-date with Jo-Jo.”
“Sure.”
Grinning, he rose. “Good, text me dates.”
“Will do.”
As he turned to leave, he hesitated. “Marisa is still chasing Clare’s case. She was asking me questions. I think she feels guilty that she wasn’t at the party that night. Feels like if she had been there, she would have saved Clare.”
“We all carry guilt,” I said. “If I hadn’t been sick, I’d have gone.”
“We all wonder if.” The lines in his face deepened. “I’d like to see Marisa find some peace.”
