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“Oh, she does,” Siena reaffirmed. “And I’m not sure where the communication breakdown has happened, but it is very clear that you are the one for her.”
“I don’t believe in soulmates.” Miranda’s words were nearly a whisper.
“But Tori does,” Siena whispered back. “And somewhere inside her, she thinks you’re it.”
Aili looked just as firm in her belief of that. “There’s still a chance for you, if you want it.”
Miranda swallowed hard, her head already shaking. “I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Why not?” Aili’s question wasn’t an accusation, but said with genuine curiosity.
For the first time since she’d explained it to Tori, Miranda decided to risk it. “I grew up with strict parents, and then when my sister was born I was sixteen, and they decided not to parent her. They were over the whole parenting thing.”
Aili hissed. “So you did it.”
“And I didn’t do a very good job.”
“Listen to me real quick.” Aili leaned down, resting her elbows on her knees. She made eye contact with Miranda and held it. “You weren’t supposed to raise your sister. It wasn’t your job. It wasn’t your responsibility. And just because your parents didn’t love her enough to parent her or love you enough to do what they needed to do instead of shoving it all onto the shoulders of a kid, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve love. It doesn’t mean that you can’t be happy. And it doesn’t mean that you aren’t a good parent.”
Miranda let out a shuddering breath. How had they gotten that from her one statement?
Siena reached over and touched her arm. “You’re incredibly strong, Miranda. I don’t think anyone who has met you would say otherwise. But sometimes that strength is a defense mechanism, and it doesn’t do anyone good. Sometimes we have to be vulnerable in order to be strong.”
“I told her all this.” Miranda’s eyes watered, and she hated it. “I told her I had to focus on Rebel, and that I had to do my best by her.”
“But she didn’t hear you,” Siena said. “Which isn’t unlike Tori. At least not when her heart is involved. She wants to see the very best in everyone, so she didn’t hear that you were struggling to keep your head above water.”
Miranda barely held back her tears. What had she turned into? She hated that she couldn’t control herself, that all these people were coming out of the woodwork because they could see on her face what she was feeling.
“Answer me this,” Siena started. “Do you love her?”
Miranda couldn’t find the words.
“Or maybe this…do you love her enough to try again? Because I can guarantee you that she will want to try again. Tori is nothing but a hopeless romantic, and like we said before, she always sees the good in people.”
“I don’t even know where to start,” Miranda confessed.
“We do!” Aili clapped her hands. “First, Siena is going to take Rebel tonight.”
“What?” Miranda tensed instantly.
“Harley’s been asking for a sleepover since I guess the last one didn’t quite pan out?” Siena gave Miranda a questioning look. “I haven’t asked for all the details on that, but we’ll get there eventually.”
“A sleepover?”
“Yup.” Siena looked like she was ready to stand up. “And then you’re going to go to Tori’s, and you’re going to do what you did in here. Just repeat that.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You can!” Aili jumped in. “I just watched you do it beautifully, and Tori is so patient.”
“She had to be to put up with me.” Siena laughed.
Miranda thought the same was true for her. “I can take Rebel to my parents.” She still didn’t want to rely on Siena, to have that burden with her.
“Miranda,” Aili caught her attention. “No woman is an island. Let Siena take Rebel.”
It would probably be better anyway. Miranda would know she likely wouldn’t get called unless there was an actual emergency. Rebel would get to spend time with Harley, learn things.
