Chapter Five

Laura

Present day

She shook herself to break free of the memory.

“He didn't want you,” she whispered to herself as she put away the horse blankets. “He got rid of his phone and never even made an attempt to contact you. You don't go where you're not wanted.”

She sighed and wished things were different. She wished a lot of things were different, but that didn't change them. She had to live the life she had. She remembered her mom's saying: if wishes were fishes we'd all cast nets to the sea. She didn't have time for wishes.

She checked her phone to make sure there were no messages from her siblings. She was so glad that Mia had invited them to come to the event today. She didn't have anyone to watch them, so the fact that Mia was willing to have them here meant the world to her.

She wouldn't have survived without their help.

She was lucky to have a boss as great as Mia and Carter. If she didn't have them, she didn't know what she'd do since her parents died. They'd helped her not only