She turned away, gaze shifting to stare out at the lake. “When I was sick, it felt like my entire life was narrowed down to that one thing. Everyone I knew, everyone I cared about, was preoccupied with managing my health. It didn’t matter what I did or said, it wasn’t me people saw—it was my illness.” Her shoulders stiffened. “The cancer may not have taken my life, but it had taken over my life, and I hated it.”

Luke wrapped an arm around his sister, squeezing those shoulders that had carried so much, so young.

“Maybe that’s why I became obsessed with romantic comedies,” Pen continued, seeming to talk more to herself than to him. “The problems always seemed … silly. Life was silly. And simple. You could count on what happened next. Two people would stumble across each other’s path, a bunch of ridiculous stuff would happen, the situation getting more and more ridiculous until finally they realize they love each other. Bam. Kiss. Happily ever after. Roll credits.”

Luke chuckled. “Yeah, but what happens after the credits roll?”

“Who cares?” She fed Crumpet another treat, giggling as he licked her palm. “I sure didn’t. Not when I was a kid and there was always another rom-com to watch, always another happy ending I could escape into.”

She turned to look at him, face sobering. “But as I got older, I realized it was after the credits rolled that was the most important part. That’s when things get real. When I got better and we were past the cancer, Mom and Dad—” Her mouth worked. “I think they pretended for so long, while I was sick, that when things were finally normal and they could be real with each other … they didn’t know how.”

“Maybe because they were too busy being selfish assholes,” Luke said gruffly. His sister would not waste one moment of her hard-earned happiness on their parents. He wouldn’t allow it.

“You’re right.” Pen sagged against him in deflated acceptance. “I mean, it sucks, but you’re right.”

Luke sucked in a breath, thinking through his sister’s words. He clenched his jaw, considering. “Yeah, but you’re right, too.”

She tilted her chin and looked at him curiously.

He shook his head. “Julia said something that got me thinking.”

“You talked to Julia about Mom and Dad?” Penelope’s eyes widened.

He squirmed uncomfortably. “It just sort of happened.”

She grinned. “I get the feeling a lot of things ‘just sort of happened’ between you two.”

And he thought he’d been uncomfortable before. Luke grimaced.

“Oh, wipe that broody scowl off your face and tell me what she said,” Penelope urged.

He dug the toe of one shoe into the sand. “She mentioned her parents were still together but she didn’t think they loved each other.”

“Ouch.” Pen’s mouth pinched in sympathy.