nest they

ora P

instances were few and far between. She chose her battles carefully. No longer waiting up in the kitchen at night, but rather, worrying

o be an enemy he left behind. But she loved him and

ways been the three of them and every day that passed he

him in the future. The impenetrable armor he'd donned since becoming an adult hid every tender part of him from the outside world-includin

ick the universe played to make it easier to push birds from the nest when it was time for them to fly on their own. Her wings had been clipped the day her father lef

dbye, her mind touched on other goodbyes and l

r children's milestones. Isadora had grieved such a defining loss long ago, but moments like this, moments when one of them

et hers, Isadora pasted on a br

ulfing her with too much strength for a man his age. "Yes

s was the end of their recent scrimmage for the upper ha

im tight. "Make sure you eat and don't forg

pamper him with a hundred more maternal suggestions. He

ted. She'd once considered running away, shortly after their mother's funeral. She'd stood at the front door wit

le voice broke the silence. "Where are you g

children only weeks after burying their mother. Maybe part of him believed their dad would come back a ch

on her tongue. She was not a replacement

his face- shimmered up at her. "But we have to stay

bigger than hers. It was then she understood she couldn't take the easy way o

now. He was moving on and she

ed to sit at the grownup table when her feet could hardly reach the floor, never being offered the chanc

used to regret what she'd forfeited. Every sacrifice had been her choice. And the reward was w

r, she wouldn't stop him now. She was a grown wo

he positive. Lucian's progress was a reflection of her s

nd gave her ponytail a fir

his shoulders and he lifted her l

omething cool,"

er feet to the g

got

e final nod. A sharp pinch stabbed in her chest as she watched the door to

confused emotions inside so as not to upset her sister

of her sniffles competed with the crunching gravel. The shock

Lucian's friend forced a smile, as though every little sniffl

Toni gaped at Lucian's friend, her big brown

h twisting with mock skepticism. "You better

't be the same. Lucian's going to be all the way i

always teased each other. Their special bond filled