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was hardly the poster child for a healthful lifestyle—to work overtime caring for him. Charlotte had offered to pay for a full-time nurse, someone to whom cleaning bedpans was as commonplace as scratching her head, but her mother had obstinately declined, declaring that it was their house and she didn’t need some “meddlesome intruder” with her nose in their business.
    â€œOkay?” Elizabeth wasn’t going to make it easy. She never did.
    â€œSo can you do it?”
    â€œBy myself?” Elizabeth scoffed.
    â€œYes, by yourself.” Charlotte added, “I’ll pay for your plane ticket.”
    â€œOh, wow, thanks!”
    â€œFine, pay your own way.”
    â€œI would, but I’m not going.” They both knew she wouldn’t, even if she was amenable to making the trip. Was it really so much to ask of a grown woman to hop on a prepaid flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale to take care of her sick father? How many times had Charlotte done thevery same thing? The fact was, it was expected of Charlotte, not of Elizabeth. Nothing was expected of Elizabeth.
    â€œLizzy, Gia starts school tomorrow. I have a million things going on, and for once, I can’t handle everything.”
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” The waitress arrived with their lunch, and Elizabeth immediately drenched her pancakes in syrup. Like aunt, like niece. In turn, Charlotte sprinkled vinegar on her rabbit food.
    â€œIt means I’m always the one to go. I’m sorry, but it’s true.”
    â€œYou’re sorry?”
    â€œYou know what I’m saying, Lizzy.” She took a bite of her salad. “Do you have something specific going on that hinders you from going? I’m sure Mom and Dad will happily accommodate your schedule.” The whole notion that Elizabeth even had a schedule was preposterous. Her hours working as a salesgirl at the Posh Teen in town were sporadic at best and seemed to correspond directly to how empty her pockets were. Aside from that, there were scattered therapy sessions, which—as evidenced by that week’s appointment—could easily be postponed.
    â€œDo you?” Elizabeth countered.
    â€œI just told you that Gia’s starting school and I have other stuff to deal with.”
    â€œWhat stuff?”
    â€œWho cares?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œFine. Guess what? I’ll go. As usual. I’ll do it all.” Charlotte threw her hands up in the air. “I’ve lost my appetite.” She stood to leave. “You know, you should really be a betterdaughter to Mom and Dad. They’ve supported you through everything.
Unconditionally.
”
    â€œWhatever you say,
perfect child
.” It was what Elizabeth had called her for the better part of their high school career.
    â€œAs if you listen to a thing I say.” Charlotte swung her purse onto her shoulder and folded her jacket into the crook of her arm. “I’ll talk to you later.” She stalked off.
    â€œUm, big sis.” Charlotte swiveled back around to find Elizabeth’s smug expression. “You forgot to pay the check.”

Chapter 4
    â€œA re you excited for your first day?” Allison thrummed her long, delicate fingers on the steering wheel to the fitful pulse of her heartbeat.
    â€œMom, you’ve asked me that, like, a million times.” Logan grinned broadly, revealing a mouthful of metal. Not a flattering look, but to her he was still the most handsome little boy in the world, even with braces. And even if he wasn’t that little anymore. “I’m really excited.” He patted her on the shoulder reassuringly.
    â€œGood, me too.” Allison smiled and stroked the top of his head, ignoring the involuntary tautening of every muscle in her body as their car fell in line with the others bordering the busy street for school drop-off. She couldn’t help but feel that, in some ways, it was her first