Page 136 of Unraveled

“I’ll never tell you what you can and can’t do with your life. You know that, right?”

Cara nodded. “You never have.”

“And I’m not going to start with this. But I do want to tell you one thing, if you’ll hear it.”

“Shoot.”

Tommas smiled, but it was measured, and not entirely genuine. “Be careful, Cara, especially in this situation. You’ve always been careful not to step too deep into the piles of shit left by the family, and right now, I’m worried you’re knee-deep and don’t even realize it.”

“I’m not involved in that side of his life, Tommas.”

Her brother shook his head. “You may not see it that way, but I can assure you that you are.”

“Well, not for much longer.”

“Maybe, maybe not. A day ago—before this came up—you said you loved him. That sort of feeling doesn’t go away because bad things happen. So, today, you want to skin him alive, but maybe in a week, you won’t be so angry, and you might even remember what he was like before you knew about his wife. I won’t tell you what to do, but you do need to be careful. Whether you like it or not, you’ve already put yourself into a position where a label is stuck on your relationship. I get that you didn’t know it was there, but the people around him certainly did. And if you understand what it means to be … that woman—”

Cara scowled. “The other woman. The whore. A goomah. Say it, Tommas.”

He didn’t even flinch at her truth, simply kept staring at her like it didn’t change a thing about how he thought of her or saw her in his eyes. “If you understand what it means to be that woman, and you can handle it, then I’ll never say a word against your choices and wishes. It is your life—live it how you want to, Cara. Live the way that makes you happy with the person who makes you happy. But the very second you find yourself in too deep, and you want to get out, you know where to find me. Okay?”

“Now beginning regular boarding for flight …”

Cara stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Tommas stood with her. “Okay, Cara? Say the word, that’s all you have to do.”

She smiled, or as much as she could manage. “I won’t need to after today, but thank you.”

“That’s easy to say now, sure.”

“Tommas—”

“Okay, Cara?”

Her brother’s expression hadn’t changed from the moment he’d started talking. Never once had judgement shone in his eyes. He hadn’t shamed her for the things that she had overlooked, or the mess she now found herself in. No, he only cared for her, and her happiness.

Wasn’t that what family was supposed to do?

She forgot what that felt like, to be looked out for, and cared about, by someone who shared her last name and blood.

“Cara?” Tommas pressed again.

“Yeah, Tommas. Okay.”

He nodded, and then waved a hand toward the gate where other passengers had started lining up to hand over their boarding passes. “Have a good flight, Cara. Call me when you get home and have a minute.”

“All right. Thank you, Tommy.”

Tommas shrugged. “It’s what big brothers do, right? Or, what we’re supposed to do.”

Yeah, it was.

She had forgotten that little fact.

Customs was not half as bad coming back through Toronto International Airport as they had been when Cara entered through them in Chicago. The customs officer gave her passport a glance, barely opened her carry-on and purse up fully, and sent her on with a smile.

That was one damn thing to be grateful for.