Page 9 of Shattered By the Currents

Raven chuckled. “Is it really that competitive?”

“The way Palmer plays,” her mother huffed. “That woman cheats her ass off.”

Her dad visibly tried to hold in a laugh. “It doesn’t help that your mother calls her out on the cheating.”

“And so you should,” Raven said with a smile. She looked at her father. “Are you happy, Dad?”

“If your mother’s happy, then so am I.”

Her smile faltered. Her father didn’t love it here. He’d been a forest ranger his entire adult life, so to now admit needing help was hard for him.

They were only in their mid-sixties, and a few years ago they’d been completely healthy. Now, her mother was in the early stages of vascular dementia. She only had mild memory gaps at the moment and got confused under stress. But everyone was very aware that her mental function would decline.

Her dad had been her mother’s caregiver for a while, but then came his first Parkinson’s symptoms. Tremors that made cooking and driving difficult. Muscle stiffness.

Eventually, he’d conceded to needing a cane to walk. Conceding to cominghere, however, had only happened after two falls in the span of twelve months.

It broke Raven’s heart. All of it.

She leaned forward. “I think you’re both doing amazing.”

“We’re just happy you’re home, darling,” her father said.

“How areyoudoing?” her mom asked, putting her mug down and giving her an I-want-to-know-everything look.

“Me?” Once upon a time, shewouldhave told her parents everything. Back when they were younger and healthy. Now? The thought of confessing everything about Xander and her money issues, and the fact that she’d almost been kicked out of her apartment, would be like dropping a bomb on them.

A mess. Her life was a mess. And her elderly parents did not need to know about any of it.

“I’m okay.” She shuffled awkwardly on the couch. “Still adjusting to being back.”

“Have you spoken to Xander?” Dad asked.

Her spine stiffened. “I tried to call him this week, but he didn’t answer.” Not that she’d called for the reasons her parents thought. She wanted to know why the hell he’d taken her money. That wasnotpart of their deal.

“You said you just fell out of love with him?” her mother asked gently.

It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t the whole truth either. “It’s good we realized before we got married.” Not we—her. It was goodshehad realized the man he really was before marriage.

“How’s your apartment?” her father asked, a slight tremor in his hand as he reached for his coffee.

“It’s fine.” Huge, mammoth lie.

She’d bargained with Dale,beggedfor him to give her more time to make rent. And he had. One week. And thankfully, Ferris had agreed to give her the next paycheck early. She’d opened a new bank account, and her next paycheck should hit her account the same day rent was due.

It wasn’t ideal, but for now, it would keep her head above water. If she had to, she’d apply for a second job. Maybe even put up anything she owned of value for sale.

Shewouldmake it.

“Are you still loving the library here, Mom?” Raven asked, more than ready to get off the topic of herself.

An easy smile brightened her mother’s face. “Oh, yes. They have the most extensive range of books.”

“She spends more time there than here,” her dad groused, but there was also affection in his voice. They had the kind of love most people dreamed of. Deep. Effortless. Resilient.

It was a love she’d hoped to share with Xander.

Stupid. She’d been so stupid.