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Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

T he porch swing creaked softly as Taylor eased into it. She pulled her sweater tighter against the cool January air, her gaze shifting to Sam. He sat beside her, baby Lennon nestled against his shoulder, her tiny fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. Taylor had layered blankets over her, even though Sam was enough of a heater, himself.

She noticed that the shutters needed painting and a board in the porch bucked, begging for a nail to tap it down. Cate and her sisters all lived in new houses, and, except for Lucy’s home’s disarray, their homes were neat and flawlessly arranged.

Taylor didn’t mind at all. There was no envy in any part of her bones because her house had seen them through a lot of memories, hardship, and accomplishments. The fact that it was still standing, and was now the dwelling for a whole lot of love, made it perfectly imperfect for her and her little family.

Diesel lay stretched out at their feet, his ears twitching toward the distant yips of coyotes.

“Sure you don’t want me to put her down inside?” Taylor asked softly .

Sam shook his head, his eyes on Lennon’s peaceful face. “Not yet,” he murmured. “Feels like I haven’t seen her all day.”

Taylor smiled faintly, leaning her head against his shoulder for a brief moment. She was so tired. “You’re a good dad, you know.”

Before Sam could respond, the sound of footsteps on the gravel path drew their attention. Diesel looked up, but didn’t react, so they knew it was someone he knew.

Cate and Ellis appeared, walking side by side from their property across the way, bundled against the chill. Cate carried a thermos, and Ellis balanced a couple of mugs in his hands. Taylor waved them over, shifting to make room on the porch.

“Thought we’d bring you some hot chocolate,” Cate said as she stepped up. “Figured you two were out here enjoying the quiet.”

“Yes,” Taylor said with a grateful smile. “But company’s always welcome.”

“As long as you’re keeping my little tadpole nice and toasty under there,” Cate said. She reached over and pulled Lennon’s blanket up an inch or so, tucking it around her neck.

“She’s so warm she’s making me hot,” Sam said, chuckling.

“This fresh, crisp air is good for her,” Ellis said, “but in small doses.”

He handed Sam a mug, then poured another for Taylor as Cate settled into one of the porch chairs. He took the chair beside her, stretching his legs out in front of him. “How’s she doing overall?” Ellis asked, nodding toward the baby.

“Perfect,” Sam said, a soft smile spreading across his face. “Couldn’t ask for a better baby.”

Diesel huffed softly, his ears flicking at the sound of more coyotes. Cate leaned over and gave him a reassuring pat before turning her attention to Taylor. “How’s Lucy?” she asked gently .

Taylor hesitated, glancing at Sam. “It’s ... been rough. I peeked into her room earlier when I went to call her for dinner, and it’s a disaster. Dirty dishes discarded here and there, clothes all over the floor. Looks like a cyclone hit.”

Cate frowned, worry creasing her features. “That sounds like more than her usual mess.”

“Oh, it is,” Taylor said. “It’s like she’s regressed back to being a teenager.”

“I try not to say anything, but my pet peeve is that she’s leaving wet towels on the bathroom floor,” Sam added, his tone edged with frustration. “And toothpaste smeared in the sink. It’s like she’s not even trying. I guess the only positive thing I can add is that she mostly stays to her room, so the mess isn’t spreading too far. She brought her TV over and set it up, and she turns the volume up to drown out the sound of mice scurrying around. Mice that we don’t have.”

Taylor had forgotten about that. She felt sick to her stomach now.

“What about Johnny? Is she taking care of him?” Cate asked.

“Not really. We’ve all teamed up and Alice is a big help,” Taylor said. “He’ll do anything she says. Even eat his vegetables, just to please her. We’ve gotten him on a good schedule and routine, and I’ve seen he thrives because of it.”

“Kids always need structure and routine,” Ellis said, nodding his approval. “Their daily lives are in the hands of adults, and they usually don’t have any say. At least if they know what to expect, it helps them keep balanced when the chaotic times come around. His life has been turned upside down and of course he’s gravitating toward what is solid. But let me ask you this.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Do you think that Lucy is taking her medication?”

“I really don’t know,” Taylor admitted. “She’s been avoiding work and ignoring calls. Faire called to check on her and said that Lucy isn’t returning any of her messages. They usually talk daily. Oh, and Lucy keeps insisting she smells something burning. For the first few nights, she had us checking every corner of the house, searching for the source. I think she’s still paranoid, even though you’ve explained to her so many times what’s going on in her brain is making her suspicious of things.”

Ellis nodded thoughtfully. “It’s not uncommon for people in her state to resist medication or fall into old patterns. The paranoia, the manic behavior—it could all be part of her cycle.”

Taylor sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I just don’t know how to help her. She won’t open up to me, and everything I say feels like it makes her pull back even more.”

Cate reached over and squeezed her daughter’s hand. “You’re doing everything you can, sweetheart. But Lucy has to want the help. She has to meet you halfway.”

Sam shifted on the swing, his arm tightening around Taylor. “We’ll figure it out,” he said firmly. “But Taylor’s already stretched thin. Between Lennon and everything else, she doesn’t have time to be cleaning up after Lucy, too. If this keeps up, Lucy is going to have to go. She’ll have to go to your house or move back into her own cabin.”

“No, she’s not ready to be alone,” Taylor said quickly. “Especially with Johnny. And he’s so happy here.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Cate said quietly. “Maybe she’ll listen to me. I can remind her about her routines, and we’ll see if we can ease her back into some kind of normalcy.”

“That’s a good idea,” Ellis said. “But we’ll have to keep an eye on her. If she’s not taking her medication or if her behavior gets worse, we might need to step in more seriously again.”

Taylor nodded, though the thought of pushing Lucy further worried her. “She’s just so closed off. I don’t know how to get through to her.”

Cate’s expression softened. “We’ll all be here for her. For you, too.”

The conversation lulled, the group falling into a companionable silence. Taylor leaned into Sam, letting his warmth and steady presence calm her nerves. Lennon stirred briefly against his shoulder before settling again, and Diesel sighed deeply at their feet.

“It’s going to take time,” Ellis said eventually, his voice low and reassuring. “But we’ll get her through this. One step at a time.”

Taylor had to admit, it was different to have others to help her try to keep Lucy on the right path. For so many years, she’d felt solely responsible if her sister lived or died. Ellis said we’ll get her through it . Now as Taylor looked around at the people she loved—her husband, her mom, and even Ellis—she let herself believe it and the weight shifted a tiny bit, letting her breathe.

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