Page 115 of Perfect Liar

A memory hit me…him saying the same thing to me as I wept for my sister.

But in that moment, my heart was strong enough to protect us both, and that realization took me by surprise, even though his vulnerable actions said he’d expected it.

We were locked in a strange place in time—a dreadful moment and a wonderful moment. Dreadful because his heart was broken. Wonderful because mine was full…I had finally learned how to love someone.

John came into the room and sat with us, his nervousness subsiding after his hours of pacing quietly around the house. His eyes were haunted by heartbreak and fear.

This boy needed his brother.

After their father died, Will became everything for John.

Clearly, he loved Ethan, too, but he loved Will more.

I offered my hand to John while still holding Will.

John took it and slid closer to us, and after searching my eyes for encouragement, he rested his cheek on his brother’s shoulder.

Will’s breath quickened against my skin, telling me how much John’s suffering affected him. He shifted himself, pulling John beneath his arm and pulling me deeper into his lap, bringing us face to face.

“Elle, I?—”

He stopped, but everything he wanted to say showed in his eyes.

I placed a soft kiss on his lips.

“I know. You don’t have to say anything. I know.”

The muscles in his face relaxed a little, and he brushed over my cheek with his fingers.

The smell of roast beef wafted into the room as Mrs. Bates rolled in a cart. She transferred everything onto the old mahogany sideboard and made up a plate with thick sandwiches for Will. Her warm hand touched my arm as she set it on the table beside us.

“Let’s see about getting him to eat something, dear,” she said.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bates. Will you send something up to Mary and Thomas?”

“I’m taking it up myself just now with more tea.”

Ben came in and somehow understood my silent plea for help with John.

“John, come here, mate. You’ll have a bite with me,” he said.

John hesitated, lifted his face, patted Will’s shoulder, then nodded at Ben. The two of them ate together near the fireplace, both quietly waiting for Will to come around.

He’s everything to them, just like he is to me.

I kissed Will’s cheek.

“Will, you need to eat too. You’ve had a lot of whisky on an empty stomach.”

He nodded and then put a lingering kiss on my neck.

I handed him the plate.

“I’ll just run upstairs and check on the girls.”

But he set his plate down and shifted his weight, dropping my bottom into the space between him and the sofa arm.

“You’ll stay with me,” he commanded.