I stepped forward and pecked Daddy on the cheek before he could say anything. Our secret plans were about to get exposed, and I still wasn’t ready.

“Are the boys home?”

“No,” he murmured. “I sent them off to help out on the Burt farm this afternoon, and Miss Marlene has Violet. They’ll be home for dinner though.”

I nodded then swallowed, my throat thick and aching. “Everything okay here? The house still intact?”

“We’ve done just fine, petal. Don’t you worry.”

I gave him a watery smile then pointed behind me. “Well, why don’t you meet the band and I’ll take Ness up to see Mama.”

I said it loud enough for everyone to hear me, praying that they’d all buy into my idea. Mama didn’t need these boys tromping up to her room. They were here for Ness, and she’d no doubt come running straight out to them once she’d found out what I’d done.

“Good idea.” Daddy nodded and encouraged my sister to follow me inside.

She looked to Jimmy and worry surged inside of me. No, if he came up too, he’d kill me on the spot.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, pressing his lips against hers. “I’ll be here if you need me.”

She nodded and turned to follow me. She was stiff as a board, her legs acting like wooden pegs as she shuffled toward the house.

“Come on, it’s okay.” I grabbed her hand and was surprised when she let me hold it.

The screen door creaked like it always did then slapped shut behind us when we entered the house. Nessa’s eyes roved the inside as we walked to the stairwell. Piles of unfolded washing spilled from the laundry basket, and the living room needed a good dusting and tidy. But there were no food scraps lying around, and the place smelled pretty clean. They had done okay without me. It was a small relief.

“Nothing’s changed,” Ness whispered.

“The blanket on the couch is new.” I pointed. “And…and…” I sighed. “Other than the mess, that’s probably about it.”

Nessa pulled a face, and I could see how relieved she was that she didn’t have to live in this house anymore. After being in her palatial home, I understood why. This house was old and mundane, steeped in years of routine and tradition. Rules and regulations that had been laid down by Mama, and no one, except my big sister, had ever thought to challenge them.

I tugged on her hand to lead her up the stairs, but she wiggled her fingers free and gripped the railing herself. We ascended together, Nessa taking the lead once we reached the top, heading for our parents’ room.

She paused outside the door and drew in a quick breath before turning the handle and busting in, like she was ripping off a Band-Aid or something.

My heart leaped into my throat and I dashed in behind her. This was it. The moment of truth.

Mama was lying in the bed, stacked up by a mound of pillows. Her cheeks were sunken in, and her sallow skin that used to be so vibrant and rosy now looked stretched and fragile. Her hands were folded across her stomach as she lay on her back, barely breathing. She’d deteriorated in the time I’d been away. Even though I’d been watching her change and slowly fade over the past year, it still didn’t take the sting out of seeing such a strong woman crumble.

I glanced at my sister. Nessa’s skin was pale, her eyes wide with shock. It’s like she didn’t even recognize the woman lying in front of her. Her face bunched with a fleeting look of agony, and she covered her mouth with trembling fingers. Blinking at her tears, she slowly approached the bed, her boots sounding loud on the wooden floor.

Mama’s eyes flicked open and she spotted my sister approaching her. She jerked on the bed, her white face pinching tight as her eyebrows bunched together.

“Vanessa?”

“Hey, Mama,” she whispered.

Mama’s shocked eyes traveled over her eldest daughter, taking in her clothing and the tattoo around her stump. She frowned, her keen eyes snapping back to Nessa’s. “What are you doing here?”

Nessa was nearly at Mama’s side when the words brought her up short. Her lips parted in horror, and she looked across the room at me. “You told me she wanted to see me.”

It got really hard to breathe for a second. I looked between the two women I’d fooled and implored them to think about it.

Neither of them budged. They just glared at me like I was Satan.

“She does want to see you.” I pointed at Mama. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

“Veronica,” Mama whispered, trying to make it sound like a reprimand, but instead it came out weak and wispy.

“You lied to me!” Nessa growled.

“You both need to see each other!” I fought back, desperate for her to understand. “You have to forgive and let go! Don’t you understand that? You’re both suffering.”

“No! I was doing just fine until you came and brought all this shit back into my life!” Nessa was practically screaming now.

Mama’s face bunched, and she opened her mouth to say something, but it was lost in the noise of Nessa stomping past me. The door crashed back on its hinges before she thundered down the stairs.

I stole a quick glance at Mama. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her forehead was wrinkled into a sharp frown.

With a small huff, I chased my sister down the stairs and out the front door.

“Nessa, please! Come back and talk to her.”

I was right on her heels when she spun and cracked her hand across my face. It caught me by surprise and I nearly fell on my butt, my feet skidding in the dirt. The slap hurt like nothing I’d felt before.

I covered the sting and held my breath as she stood over me and whispered, “I trusted you.”

Tears were streaming down her face, her brown eyes dark with pain and anger as she spun on her heel and took off running.

Everyone was frozen still by the drama, and the second my sister disappeared all eyes landed on me, asking questions I didn’t want to answer. I shook my head and stumbled away from them, taking my burning cheek and heartbreaking shame into hiding.