Love My Pain (Cape Falls Book 6)(16)

“Edward?” Sophie asked.

“I’ve got to go. Chat soon.” Before her sister could say anything more, she hung up. “Hey,” she said. “I thought you were busy.”

“I was. Peter was worried, and thought I should come and check on you.”

“I’m fine.” She pocketed her cell phone, wanting to do anything but look at him. It was embarrassing thinking what she did. “I just … I like to clean.”

“How is everything?” he asked, taking a seat beside her.

“It’s fine. It’s all fine. I would have called if nothing was fine.”

He stared at her for several seconds. “You look sad.”

“I’m fine.”

“You keep saying that.”

She smiled. “It’s because there’s nothing wrong. Seriously, I’m okay.” The feelings she was experiencing were nothing new. She was used to them. They were a kind of weird ass comfort.

“The key to a good relationship is to have truth with each other, Isabel. I need you to trust me before we can do anything else like that.” He took her hand. “I know you’re lying to me, but I can see that you believe that you’re fine. You’ve lived with this for so long you don’t even see what is going on. Just remember, I won’t always be so lenient about this. I want you to be open with me, honest about everything. I care about you. I want you to be happy, and to be safe. The only way I can do that is if you trust me enough to open up.” He then leaned in close and pressed a kiss to her cheek.





Chapter Five



“Is there something wrong with her?” Sophie asked, three days later.

“Nothing at all. I just need you to talk to me about all of your troubles.”

Edward heard her sigh on the phone. “I don’t like this. I talk to Is about everything, and now you’re telling me I can’t. I don’t like it.”

He ran a hand down his face, trying to clear his head. The scotch he had hadn’t done enough to numb his brain, or his cock. “Isabel has sacrificed a great deal for you over the years, and she has never had anyone to lean on. Not your parents, or relatives, not even friends. I’m the only person she has. I’m not asking you to not talk to her. I’m asking you that any troubles, any money you need, or bills, or problems, you phone me. No one else. I will handle it.”

Sophie went silent on the other end. “Do you love her?”

“What?”

“You’re going to a lot of trouble for someone you don’t love.”

“I care a great deal.”

“Do you look yourself in the mirror when you say that? I’d say you were in love, and you’re making sure that my sister can depend on you. You don’t think I don’t know my sister has problems? I do.”

Edward tensed up. If he found out that Sophie knew the shit Isabel was doing, he was going to go fucking crazy. “What do you mean?”

“My sister, I’m taking this class right now, human psyche or something. Anyway, it got me to thinking about Is. You know I’ve never seen her cry.”

“What?” Edward asked.

“Yep. Growing up she never cried, she never argued. I’d say she was a doormat, but you know what, I think she was just relied on too damn much. I hate my parents, I really do, and I hate the town of Cape Falls. They don’t care about anyone but themselves. I never knew the truth of what was really going on. Being at college, talking to people, Is deserves so much. I’m asking you, do you love my sister, or at least care about her? I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I do. You hurt my sister, I will personally hurt you, Edward Banner.”

Sophie didn’t have a clue the extent of Isabel’s pain. No one did. She had been that good in keeping it to herself. He stared at Sophie, and for as much as she claimed to love her sister, she didn’t have the first clue about her. Yes, Sophie was a nice person, kind, caring, and all of that, but she had never even looked all that close to home to see where she was needed. Edward stared, and wondered if the way Cape Falls people really felt had somehow projected onto Sophie. She just assumed that because Isabel was the older sister, she had to go through everything, while she was an entitled little brat.

He was starting to understand it, not the full extent, but he wanted to help, more than anything. No one had ever stopped to consider Isabel. No one but him, and he was going to make sure no one else ever did that again. What scared him the most was that there wasn’t all that much help there with Isabel’s … condition.

At least she had opened up to him, given him a reason to believe that she cared, and that she wanted the help that he wanted to give.