Instead, I thought about Wendy. About what she could want and how she could wreck things with Tess. And then I considered all the ways to stop that from happening.

An hour later, dinner had been cleared, the dishes cleaned, dried, and put away. And the family dispersed, my mother last with the declaration of a bath and a book—two of life’s great pleasures, she’d noted matter-of-factly.

And with her exit, Dad and I were alone in the kitchen, eating cookies out of the jar between us in silence.

“You talked to Tess?” he finally asked between bites, watching me with clever, knowing eyes.

I nodded, swallowing. “I did. She was shocked.”

“Well, that makes all of us.”

We chuckled and slipped into silence for a moment again.

“What do you think Wendy wants?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t. Could be a play to get me back, might be about money. Or it could be as simple as getting dumped and coming home. But I meant what I said. I’m through with her.”

He bobbed his head. “Yes and no. You’re never really through with her, are you?”

“I can’t just … I don’t know. Push her away. I don’t know where she’ll go or what she’ll do if I cut her off completely. I’ve just got to be honest with Tess, and I’ve got to keep as much distance between me and Wendy as possible.”

“Wendy loves you as best she can. And you love her. You went through too much together not to. But Wendy is a loose cannon—we don’t know what she’ll do or when she’ll do it. She’s dangerous in that way, and I know you know that. I just thought it served to say it aloud. I don’t want you to get hurt, son. And I don’t want you to lose what you’ve found with Tess because of Wendy.”

Exhaustion slipped over me, bone deep and heavy. “I know. But if she calls me, I don’t know how to ignore her—I’ve seen what happens to her when I do. I don’t know how to survive the guilt any more than I know how to handle her when she needs me. All I can do is be there if she’s in trouble and make sure it’s clear what she and I are and what we aren’t. And Tess—I’ve got to tell her about Tess. But Dad, it has to be me to answer the call. Wendy doesn’t have anybody else.”

He watched me for a moment, lowering his hand to the counter. “Your mother’s right, you know. You aren’t responsible for her.”

I shook my head. “I know. But if anyone can help her, it’s me.”

Dad nodded, shifting to grasp my shoulder. “You’re a good man, Lucas. And I’m proud of you. Of the man you’ve become. Just know what you’re worth and give your love to the people who will give theirs back to you.”

He turned, taking a bite of his cookie as he walked away. And I hoped against hope that I knew what I was doing.