“I’m sorry,” Paisley started, already tearing up. “I’m so sorry for abandoning you when you needed me most. I can make a thousand excuses, but the truth is I should have been the one to call you. I should have been the one to sit with you and comfort you…and, well, I should have done a lot of things. I knew how much you loved him, and I had hoped that you two would have a future. I so wanted that for you. And you’re right. It isn’t fair that you never got that chance, and it isn’t fair that I wasn’t there for you, especially when you’ve always been there for me.”

The pure misery in her voice hurt my soul. Regardless of the last two years, she was my very best friend. Two years of neglect didn’t negate a lifetime of love and support.

Jagger reached for her hand and laced their fingers on the tabletop.

“I know you had your hands full,” I said softly, warming my hands with my coffee mug. “Jagger’s health was your first concern, as it should have been. No one could expect you to balance a wounded husband, pregnancy, and a grieving best friend.”

“You could have.” She shook her head. “You should have. And I’m sorry for what I said to Josh that day in the cemetery. I tried to soothe his guilt, and instead I hurt you immeasurably with incredibly thoughtless words. You have my deepest apology, Morgan.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, but it wasn’t anxiety. “Thank you.”

“There are so many things that I need to apologize for, and I hope you’ll give me that chance. I love you. You’re the only sister I have left.” She swatted away a tear.

“I’m sorry for unleashing my temper on you yesterday.” I turned the cup in a nervous fidget.

“No,” Ember chided. “It was a long time coming, and we deserved every word of it. I just wish you’d lost your shit on us two years ago. I’m so sorry that I didn’t see how much pain you were in at the funeral. That I didn’t see it at my wedding, or Sam’s.”

The lump in my throat grew. “That’s not your fault.”

“I’m mostly sorry that I didn’t tell you that I talked to Will right before he came down to see you.” Her face contorted as she struggled for control. “I should have told you that he said you were perfect. He told me you were funny, and gorgeous, and reminded him who he really was underneath everything else.”

My chest constricted, and my nose started to burn.