“No. I have a beer now and then, but I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I’d find another way to deal. It took me a while to find it, but this house became my outlet. I worked myself to the bone so I could pass out at the end of the day. But as I was hauling trash and refinishing floors, I started to work through some of the worst of the memories. There was nothing else around to distract me. I had to face it.”

Will swallowed hard. “Did it work?”

I leaned back against the wall. “It helped. A lot. But it wasn’t until I let people in again that I finally felt some peace.”

“Caelyn?”

“Yes.” My chest constricted. “She’s this soft place to land that I didn’t think I’d ever have. She’s unconditional acceptance and complete trust. But you and your sisters have helped, too.” Will looked skeptical, and I chuckled. “You brought life back into this place. Back to me. I’ll never be able to repay you for that. But I can be a safe space for you, Will. You can tell me anything. It doesn’t matter how ugly or selfish or hard. I’m here.”

Will’s face reddened with the force of holding himself back. I pushed off the wall and started towards him. He shook his head, pulling off his goggles. “No, I’m fine.”

I kept coming. “You don’t have to be fine. No one is all of the time.”

His breathing picked up, coming faster and faster. “I—I. No.”

I gripped his shoulders. “Let it out.”

He shook his head. “I’m not weak.”

My gaze locked with Will’s as I squeezed his shoulders harder. “Let it out. You’re safe here.”

He broke. Sobs wracked his body, and I pulled him into my arms. “Never be ashamed of feeling deeply. It doesn’t make you weak. It makes you so incredibly strong.”

He shook violently as he cried. “I hate her. Both Mom and Dad. For what they did to us. For everything.” He sucked in air. “And it’s all my fault.”

I didn’t let go. I held on as he wept. “What’s your fault?”

“I knew they were messed up in bad stuff, but I didn’t tell anyone. I just wanted Caelyn to finish school so she could get us out of there. I didn’t want to go into foster care and maybe have to switch schools or be separated from my sisters. So, I kept my mouth shut. I almost got us killed.”