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He shook his head. “No. Looks to be a few days. After you got hurt.”

Because she deserved to know the truth there also.

“She texted me a few times,” Bella said. “And we talked once. Not even about much. Not even about me. She just sounded funny.”

“Funny how?” he asked. He knew about the call and that it was brief, but Bella had played it off as confusing, but not upsetting.

“I can’t explain it. Her words didn’t make sense. Like she almost called me by mistake, then realized who I was. Then after a minute hung up.”

He wished he’d known that last week.

But what could he have done? Called Holly and asked her what was going on?

He knew what she was doing. She was staying in a known drug den.

“I’m sorry that happened,” Marly said.

He stayed quiet and let Bella talk when she was ready.

“Is it horrible for me to say it felt kind of like… when there’s a girl at school who says she wants to be friends but then never sits with you at lunch? She tells people she likes you, but never shows it to you. Just says the words when she chooses to.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I get that.”

Bella twisted the blanket tighter between her fingers.

“I kept thinking maybe she’d start acting like a mom eventually. I’m not sure why I thought that. But I was waiting for that before I let myself... feel more. Then I told myself it didn’t matter because I didn’t really want her in my life.” The tears fell now. “That’s horrible to say, isn’t it?”

“Not at all,” he said. “You have every right to feel what you are.”

“I think I was happy she wasn’t acting like she cared because then it made it easier for me not to care. I don’t want someone in my life who doesn’t want me.”

“And you shouldn’t have to live like that either,” he said. His hand reached for Marly’s this time, holding both of his girls.

His throat tightened.

What he wanted and needed in his life was right here.

And maybe everyone realized it and felt the same.

“You’re my family,” Bella said.

The words hit him square in the chest.

“I am,” he said.

His sister’s eyes moved to Marly.

“And Marly is too,” Bella said.

Marly smiled at Bella, then turned and smiled at him. Her eyes were glossy, telling him she felt the same.

“I am your family,” she said.

“So I guess I’m sad because she died.” His sister frowned slightly. “But I think I was already sad about the rest of it. Or angry. For years. So if anything, I’m just mad she came back and did this and wished she’d stayed gone to begin with.”

He felt the same way.

“You’re allowed to feel however you feel,” he told her. “There’s no right way to react to something like this.”