“Good,” Ansel said. “I’ll book the tickets.”

“Don’t be silly,” I chided. “I’ll book them.”

“Sis, I am not going to keep letting you buy my plane tickets for me,” he turned serious.

“I don’t mind doing it.” I sipped my wine. I really didn’t. Part of me worked so hard to be financially independent, to have money. Sure, being able to pay my bills and afford good health insurance was great. Along with the fancy pillows, wine and the nice things.

But my biggest accomplishment was being able to look after my brother. Though he was older—technically—smart, talented and could achieve anything he wanted, his road had been a little rougher. He was finally getting better, building a good life, but I wanted to help him. Especially wanted to get him free from the shackles of my mother.

“Really, Nora, I can pay,” Ansel told me firmly. “I’m getting paid well now. In fact, I’m getting transferred to Arizona. Getting full benefits.”

My mouth dropped at that piece of news. “Arizona?” I asked, sad that it wasn’t closer to me but understood that he needed to find his place in the world.

“Sedona, to be exact,” Ansel clarified. “Full of vortexes of spiritual energy.”

“Of course, it is.”

“Don’t laugh at me,” he ordered.

I pressed my lips together, trying to swallow my smile. My eyes met Rowan’s for a beat. The corner of his lips turned up as he glimpsed me through the window.

Maggie came bounding in from outside, her tail wagging maniacally as I scratched her behind the ears.

“I’m not laughing,” I told him truthfully.

“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered.

“I can’t wait for you to get here. To meet Rowan,” I told him excitedly, being sure to keep my voice down so it didn’t carry outside. “I think he’s it. The real thing. My guy.” I never would’ve said this to anyone else. Not even Fiona. Not this soon, at least. But I needed to bounce it off Ansel.

“I’m sure he is,” Ansel responded.

“It’s too soon for me to know that,” I argued with him.

“It’s not too soon when you know,” he countered. “I know our life hasn’t exactly given you good reason to believe that good things happen, that the future is something to look forward to. I know it’s hard to trust your instincts when your traumas are polluting them. But believe it, honey. It’s time to shed old skin. Old habits.”

I breathed in his words. He was right. We’d been dragging our pasts along with us for long enough. He was coming out the other side, finally getting his life together and getting away from Chicago.

“Does she know?” I asked, my body tensing at the thought of her.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “Not yet.”

“She’s going to try and stop you,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose.

“She can try.” My brother’s voice was strong. Resolute.

I was still uneasy at the thought of my mother trying to find a way to get her hooks back in, but I had to trust this. Him.