Page 52 of Blackout

Addison lips tipped upwards ever so slightly. Her half smile told me she was over talking about her pregnancy.

‘So, Lex.’ I changed the topic of conversation. ‘Mum has taken over managing the James Family Bakery, and now that I won’t be in the city, I know she could use someone with your experience in her corner. Would you mind reaching out?’

‘That’s great that your mum’s managing the bakery.’

I’m sure Lex thought her face was unreadable, but I saw a slight twitch. ‘I’ll reach out when I get back.’

Did Lex already have enough on her plate and now I’d just added more to it? Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. Surely Lex would have said if she couldn’t help.

‘Let me grab my things and we can go.’ I made my way to my bedroom to pull out my box of treasures and my suitcase. I laid my suitcase on my bed pulled out an oversized tee-shirt and a pair of leggings and left them on my bed. My sister could wear them or not.

I handed the box over to Lex and headed for the front door with my suitcase in tow. As I turned back for my handbag, I caught Addison’s eye. ‘Will you be okay? I left some clothes for you.’

‘Harley, you don’t need to worry. I’ll be fine. I too need to find what my new normal looks like.’

Even though she didn’t want me to, I would still worry. I would reach out to her often, more often than before anyway.

‘Call me.’ I squeezed my sister’s hand. ‘If you need anything, I’ll be there.’ I then handed her the keys to my house. ‘Take care, sis.’

‘You, too.’ Addison hugged me her goodbye.

‘Bye,’ Lex said as she followed me out.

‘What’s up with Addison?’ Lex questioned me as we walked out to her car.

‘It’s been a long time since there’s been more than dares between us,’ I told Lex. ‘Today felt like we could be close again. So much has happened in the last ten years, but my family is trying to find a way to reconnect. Addison has to find her new normal while being pregnant. Maybe she thought I would stay longer, but I have my own new normal to find.’

‘Your sister didn’t like it when I brought up the father.’

So I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed my sister was a little off.

‘Yeah, she hasn’t said much.’ In truth, Addison and I hadn’t had a chance to talk, but once I was settled, I would reach out. ‘I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to Addison about her baby. I’ve been a little busy with the bakery and therapy,’ I confessed of my own situation.

‘You went to therapy,’ Lex said excitedly, her face happy. ‘That’s great, Harley.’

I laughed at how contagious Lex’s vibe was as we walked down the footpath.

We reached Lex’s car, a souped-up black V8 Commodore wagon. This family and their cars, they sure loved to make a statement. Name, colour and noise.

Then I noticed that the last person I felt like seeing was leaning up against the passenger door. I hadn’t seen Connor Black since that night at Black’s Bar and Grill where Connor had manhandled me.

‘No way, Lex.’ I shook my head. I didn’t want to be in the same space as Connor.

‘Wait, you two know each other?’

‘It’s a long story.’

‘And we have a three-hour drive, so you can explain on the way.’

I was surprised when I heard a deep voice say, ‘I’m sorry.’ Connor had spoken.

‘I’m sorry,’ Connor repeated. ‘I should never have manhandled you.’

I moved closer towards Lex’s car and locked my green eyes with the brown eyes that ran in the family.

‘It’s going to take time to forgive you, Connor, but the apology helps.’ Connor gave a slight nod of his head, then I called shot gun.

I dropped my handbag at my feet and before I even had my seatbelt clicked in place, Lex had taken off. Connor had already made himself comfortable in the back of Lex’s car. He laid out along the back seat. His eyes were closed and for all I knew he had gone to sleep.