“Now her brother is in town. You know him because you’ve been working with him,” he said. “You know that Annabelle is keeping her brother at arm’s length, because they’ve been estranged by life circumstances, but you also know that your relationship with Annabelle is temporary and ending soon. Who can you call that you know will take care of her when things are over between you?”

“Her brother,” I said. And just like that, I understood exactly why Annabelle had done what she did. She cared. She cared about me, and she didn’t want me to be alone.

“Damn it,” I said.

Jackson sat down beside me. He fished a card out of his shorts pocket, and he handed it to me. I recognized it as the card Dr. Henry had given to me when he referred me to Dr. Franks.

“It’s not too late to fix things, but you’re going to need some professional help,” Jackson said. “Call him.”

The fierce teenager who had struck out on his own, refusing any help from anyone, was still inside me. I could feel him rejecting the doctor, Jackson, Annabelle, and Lexi. He didn’t want to have anyone in his life whom he might care about. He didn’t want to be vulnerable. He didn’t want to get hurt. And he most definitely didn’t want to be abandoned again.

Out of fear, I’d let him have his way for a very long time. Annabelle was right. I was afraid. I’d kept everyone at a distance. Relationships lasted only a season. I paid people to take care of me instead of leaning on friends or, in Lexi’s case, family. I’d spent the past twenty years working myself into the ground so that I was safe, untouchable, but what I hadn’t realized was that I was lonely.

It wasn’t until after my stroke when I was vulnerable that I discovered I not only needed Lupita’s mothering, Juan’s steadfastness, Jackson’s friendship, and Annabelle’s affection, but also wanted all of those things. And I wanted my sister. I wanted Lexi back in my life. I didn’t want to be so alone anymore.

I looked at Jackson, knowing that there were tears in my eyes and for once not feeling ashamed of seeming weak.

“You’re right. Will you help me?” I asked. I met his piercing gaze and said, “Please . . . brother.”

Much to my horror, Jackson watered up. He looked like he was going to full-on cry. Instead, he hugged me tight. It was like being hugged by a bear. Then he laughed his booming laugh and slapped me hard on the back. Ouch.

“Let’s do this,” he announced.

For a second, a nanosecond really, I wondered what the hell I had just done.

Annabelle

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