MONICA
Monica shifted back and forth in the wooden chair. A deep sigh escaped her lips as
she thought about the events surrounding her return to Seattle. She wasn’t sure she
could talk about Lily without bringing Jeremy into the story.
“It’s kind of a complicated story,” she said, and then paused.
“I’m all ears.” Jack grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
“Well, after the initial news of our parents’ deaths, we were forced into a new kind
of relationship. I hadn’t been home for a couple of years. Lily and I had been writing
each other letters, but the last time we’d been together, Mom was still stirring
the pot between us and Daddy was our mediator.
“Lily was in that awkward stage between teen and woman, and our initial conversations
were laced with both a surprisingly mature Lily a
