Chapter 16: Stand Still

Holt's POV

Thanksgiving dinner was a burned pie, Cass's chili and a turkey breast Joni had cooked in a pan, and it was the best one I'd had in four years.

Cass sat at my father's end of the table and told a story about a line cook and a flaming fryer.

Dacey laughed until she cried, and then she kept crying, quietly, behind her napkin.

Joni moved her chair over and put an arm around her without a word.

I did the dishes so nobody would see my face.

Bear lay across Joni's feet under the table and would not be moved.

When the others had gone to the living room, Dacey came and picked up a towel.

She dried one plate for a long time.

"I hid him from you," she said.

"I know."

"You ran off the last one."

"He was cheating on you with your roommate."

"I know he was." She set the plate down. "I'm not saying you were wrong."

"Then what?"

"You were loud about it. I didn't want to be the girl who needed her brother again."

"You're allowed to need me."

"Not if it means you drive over there with a tire iron."

"I'm not going to drive over there."

"I'm not asking you to promise me anything." She looked up. "I'm asking you to stand there Saturday and not move. Can you do that?"

"Dace."

"Can you?"

"I stood by Dad's bed for four months and did nothing," I said. "I can stand there."

She hugged me then, hard, with the wet towel between us.

At eight the others had settled around the sofa with the last of the cider, and I went down to lock the garage.

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