Page 116 of The Things We Do

“A year after you left…” He trails off, fidgeting with the ring around his thumb. “My best friend… she killed herself.” The words are stiff, heavy, like they cost him something to say. “And I—I blamed a lot of shit on Kyler. Thought he was being selfish. Distant. I missed my brother, and I guess I pinned that on you.” He swallows hard. “I’m sorry, Layne. I really am.”

I watch him for a long moment, my heart twisting.

“Thanks, Pax,” I whisper.

He nods without looking at me, and for the first time, the silence between us feels like peace.

I wrap my arms around him and, completely unexpectedly, he buries his nose in my shirt. A moment later, he sits up straight and looks at me.

“It’s okay, Pax,” I say softly. “And I’m sorry about Violet.”

“What?” he says, tilting his head down so his hair falls even further forward.

“I knew you liked her. You always took her and Colt with you to the lake, and I could see it in your face. I have a memory, you know.” I grin at him and he smiles back.

“Yeah, she always came with us.”

“And you loved her,” I whisper.

He just nods.

We sit next to each other in silence for a few minutes until he suddenly points to a stone in the corner of the cemetery. “She’s over there,” he whispers.

I lay my head on his shoulder. “That’s beautiful, Pax, that you have a place where you can talk to her.”

He lays his head on mine. “I think so. Just like you have for that accountant of yours.” He chuckles and nudges me gently in the side. “I’m glad you’re back, bitch.”

“I’m glad you’re still the same jerk, jerk.”

And we sit like that until I have to pick up Rebel. “See you tonight at the barbecue?”

“Always, Layne, always.”

I nod and start walking back to the clubhouse. Back to my daughter. Back to my life.