Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

P aige stared at her little brother. “You know about Mom’s illness?”

Archie picked at a splinter of bark. She’d brought him out to a log bench by the woods so they could talk in private, away from any chance of interruption.

“Yeah,” he mumbled. “Or at least, I knew something was wrong. In her head, I mean.”

She couldn’t believe she’d had no idea. “How?”

Archie shot her an exasperated glare. “I’m not stupid, you know.”

“Oh, Archie.” She put her arm around him, hugging him against her side. “Of course you aren’t. It’s just that Mom and I were trying to hide her issues from you. How long have you known?”

“Dunno.” Archie knuckled at his red-rimmed eyes. “Forever, I guess. Even when I was real little, I’d get this feeling that she was hurting inside, sometimes. Like she’d lost something important, and it made her sad. And later, when my bear started talking to me, it was worried about Mom too. You can’t fool a bear’s nose. We could smell something wasn’t right.”

Her chest hurt at the thought of her little brother spending years with the knowledge that his family was keeping a secret from him. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because you didn’t tell me.” Archie’s shoulders hunched. “I thought…I thought maybe Mom would get in trouble if anyone found out. And you didn’t trust me not to blab.”

“We didn’t want you to worry, that’s all.” She sighed, resting her cheek on his hair. “Seems I didn’t do a very good job at that.”

“Paige?” She hadn’t heard him sound so small and scared since he’d been a toddler, afraid of monsters in his closet. “Is it my fault Mom’s sick?”

“No.” She drew back far enough that he could see her face, hoping he could read the conviction there. “It’s not your fault, Archie. Never think that, not for a second. Her brain doesn’t make enough of the right chemicals to keep her emotions in balance, that’s all.”

Archie fidgeted. “But worrying about me makes it worse, doesn’t it.”

She hesitated, not wanting to lie to him. “It’s true that Mom sometimes finds it hard to cope with stress. But that doesn’t make it your responsibility to manage. The last thing she’d want is for you to worry about how things might affect her.”

“ You do.”

She floundered for a moment, unable to deny it. “Well, yes. But that’s different.”

From the dubious look Archie gave her, he was not convinced. “How?”

“You’re still a kid. You’re not supposed to be worrying about grown-ups.” She gave her brother a last hug before releasing him. “Besides, I’m your big sister. It’s my job to be the boring, responsible one.”

Archie peeled another piece of bark off the log. “I know how much you do to help Mom. That’s why I was scared when you found your mate. I thought you’d leave home, and then she’d only have me.”

“Of course not,” she said firmly. “I’m always going to be there for you and Mom, no matter what. Nothing could ever change that.”

“Do you…” Archie stalled, mouth closing for a moment. Evidently changing his mind about whatever he’d been about to say, he asked, “Am I really allowed to stay at camp? Even though I broke the most important rule?”

“Well, it’s a special case. It wouldn’t be great for other kids to have to adjust to a new counselor at this point, and I really would have to go home too if they expelled you.”

“I kinda wish we could go home,” Archie muttered, crumbling the piece of bark into fragments. “The rest of the summer is gonna suck. The other kids all hate me now.”

“They’re your friends. They have good reason to be upset, but I’m sure they’ll forgive you, as long as you prove to them you’re genuinely sorry.”

Archie’s forehead furrowed. “How?”

“I think we’ve both been keeping secrets for too long.” She took Archie’s hand. “Maybe you should try telling your friends the truth.”