Page 79 of Gorgeous Misery

Last Christmas was a tipping point for us. We had been playing the old how-do-we-move-on-after-that-shit-happened game for almost seven years. And you know what they say about the definition of insanity. You can’t do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.

So why were we still playing the insanity game?

It was time to end it.

And by end it I mean begin it.

It was time for drastic measures.

It was time I gave her that perfect present.

It was time I told her about the cure.

I don’t care what happens next.

We’re seeing this through to the end.

PART THREE - THE WISE

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

― Aristotle

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - MERC

“OK,” Harrison says once we’re outside. “What are we doing?”

“You’re going back to Fort Collins.”

“Why?”

“Pick up Sasha. Bring her here.”

Harrison stops walking. “Are you sure that’s the right move? I mean… it’s been nearly ten years, Merc. She doesn’t need this.”

I agree with him. Up to a point. And I know Sasha doesn’t want this, but something is happening here and Nick is at the center of it. “Doesn’t she?” I ask Harrison. “It’s one thing to pretend we don’t know the truth, it’s quite another to turn a blind eye.”

“You think she knows Nick is alive?”

“She knows. She doesn’t want to admit it, but she knows. It’s better to get it over with. Confront it. Because I need her help here.”

“For what?”

“Keep walking,” I say, looking over my shoulder. “I don’t want to talk too close to the house.”

We go up the driveway and stop in front of the jet. “OK,” Harrison says. “Now explain. What’s really going on here?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

“You think Nick is up to something?”

“I know he is. Everything about this is off.”

Harrison shrugs with his hands. “Off how?”

“I’m not sure. But it’s all connected. Wendy, Adam, Nick, Donovan or Carter or whoever the fuck that guy is. They’re up to something.”

“You’re worried about your girls?”