**** Content Warning for Abuse and Violence****

Parker and I went back to the apartment after rehearsal. We were silent most of the drive, and Aunt Layla had cake for us on our return.

"The show is going to be spectacular," Parker told her. "Although I still need help believing she and Orlando are lovers."

I shoved my brother playfully. "You're the worst."

"And you're quite the actress," Parker said. "But your acting towards him could be better... unless you're afraid you'll fall in love with Jack Garrison."

I met his accusation with a blank stare. "I consider myself better than that since everyone since has a crush on the golden boy."

He smiled. "Careful, Peanut. You're starting to sound like your ex-boyfriend. Never liked him much anyway."

"Parker," I said.

"I know," he laughed. "I know, I'm the worst. But you could stand to be a bit nicer to the poor guy."

Rolling my eyes, I stared at my brother's candid expression. "Wait, you're serious. Did he sucker you with some sad story about his big bad daddy?"

Parker shifted from foot to foot. "We both know not every father wins the Father of the Year award behind closed doors."

He wasn't talking about our father. Not this time. The night Aunt Layla moved in with us, Mom had to stitch up a head wound on Trevor and set a broken ankle for our aunt.

I'd held Brady as he cried himself to sleep, asking why his daddy destroyed his baking soda volcano. While our aunt's divorce wasn't exclusively because of the abuse she and the boys suffered that night, it was certainly a large factor in her decision to remove her children from their father.

"The Garrisons are like holiday card perfect," I said. "Except Mrs. Garrison has cancer."

Parker readjusted his man bun. "I'm just saying, maybe you should cut him some slack. Even if it is just the toll of his mother on death's door, that's not easy for anyone at any age."

"Please tell him to stop hitting on me," I said. "He listens to you. You're the cool Christian-Porter."

"Shayna," Parker shook his head. He's a good guy—way better than your ex. I'm not telling you to date him. I'm just asking you to set aside years of burning anger. Being mad at him won't undo our parents' divorce."

It was so funny how Parker knew me better than I knew myself. It wasn't about Jack. I was still mad at our dad for running off with an intern, but I could deflect all my anger on him much easier because Jack was closer than Dad.

"Peanut," he said. "Tell me you'll try to let this all go. You can be mad at Dad all you want, but stop taking it out on Jack. Remember our triple dare."

Somehow, I found myself nodding. "I'll try."

He raised an eyebrow. "What would Aunt Layla say?"

That made me laugh. "Try, girl, that means you're only putting in half effort. If you're gonna just try, you'll fail. You gotta commit and do it."

We'd heard her say it a thousand times. Aunt Layla joked she got her wisdom from Yoda, but she actually made it make sense.

"Then do it," Parker held out his hand, and I gave him a high five. "I know you got this, peanut."

I smiled. "I'll commit."

"That's good," he said. "Cause, sadly, I gotta head back to school. Sorry, I can't stay for movie night. Tell Mom I love her."

I gave my brother the biggest hug, and he headed out. Then I curled up on the couch after he left for a nap until Mom came home.

Mistakes. Tonight seemed to be full of them. Driving in the dark with all the events from the night boiling and spilling out in my head was making it worse.

Not being able to control things was killing me. Lilly had almost predicted this. I should have known something bad was going to happen.

My chest felt heavy as my lungs filled with air. I knew I was a fool. I'd messed up badly, and this time, it might not even be salvageable.

We'd gone home from ice cream. Mary and Maddy were grinning from ear to ear. That almost made my smile genuine. Dad wasn't drunk when we returned, and I took that as a sign that the day was a success. 

The girls were happy. Even Lilly was relaxed. I let my guard down. Then after midnight, all hell broke loose. 

Lilly now sat in the backseat, cradling Mary, trying to stop the blood. Maddy was whimpering beside her. My arm ached as I drove, barely aware of where we were going.

The rain was falling faster as I pulled into the theater parking lot. I didn't want to take this to a hospital. Then we might have to explain it all, and who knows what would happen then.

Lilly broke her silence from the back seat. "Did you call..."

"Uncle Anton is coming," I said. "He'll be here soon."

I parked the car as close as possible to the theater doors and ran outside in the rain to unlock them with Uncle Anton's spare key.

I walked back to the car and opened the back door. "Let's get her inside. Then we can decide what to do when Uncle Anton gets here."

"She's bleeding through the bandages from your first aid kit," Lilly said.

"We'll find more," I said. "Maddy, this is really important. I need you to open the theater door for us."

My little sister hopped out of the car as I put Mary in my arms. Lilly was right. She was bleeding out. Lilly supported our sister's head as I carried Mary gently through the rain and into the theater to the table on the stage.

Lilly ran to get some cloth from the backstage area to put pressure on Mary's wound. Mary squeezed my hand slightly and groaned. Maddy reached to braid her long blonde hair.

Lilly returned with the cloth, and we rewrapped Mary's stomach together. Lilly slowly turned green, and I breathed slowly in and out to keep myself together.

Uncle Anton burst into the theater. His rain jacket was buttoned unevenly, and he had a fantastic case of bedhead.

"You said Mary got hurt..." but he stopped dead when he saw her.

We probably looked crazed. There was blood all over my pajamas, and Lilly didn't look much better. Even Maddy had bits in her hair as she squeezed Mary's hand. 

"Dad had a gun," I said. "One bullet grazed me, but two got Mary."

"A gun?" Uncle Anton's voice broke, and he took a deep breath to stay calm. "What happened?"

"Daddy got mad," Maddy said.

Uncle Anton looked at me, but all the words stuck in my throat. I had failed tonight. Mary had gotten hurt, and I hadn't been able to save her.

"He was shooting," Maddy continued. "It was scary."

"I didn't realize it was this bad," Uncle Anton said, running onto the stage and looking at Mary. "But I guess it's a good thing I called Genique."

"Genique?" Lilly asked.

"Dr. Porter," Uncle Anton said. "She fixed up your arm Lilly."

I remembered that. We hadn't taken Lilly to the hospital when she was pushed down the stairs. Instead, I called Uncle Anton, and he'd brought his doctor friend. 

My stomach dropped. "Isn't that..."

"Shayna's mother," Uncle Anton finished for me. "Yes, I told her to come as quickly as possible."

I took a deep breath. The girls. I had to keep it together for the girls. I ran a hand through my hair and hissed from the pain. My arm wasn't bleeding anymore, but it stung like hell.

"I'm so sorry," I said. "I tried-"

"Jack," Uncle Anton said, trading places with me to put pressure on Mary's wound. "This isn't your fault. I would never have let you stay with him if I'd known he had a gun."

The gun. A shiver rolled down my spine. I didn't know he had a gun. It was new. Just another sign that I should have seen.

I wouldn't have brought the girls home if I knew he had a gun. I was still the little boy who kept getting his face kicked in.

This was all my fault. Blood soaked my hands, the red stain dripping off my fingers. I'd never be able to forgive myself. It took all my will not to fall apart and scream.

"Son," Uncle Anton said. "I can call Genique back, and she can meet us at the hospital."

No. My stomach dropped. The last thing I needed was another family member in the hospital. I'd promised Mom that I'd look out for the girls.

"Don't make them go to the hospital," I said.

"Son," Uncle Anton said.

"Stop calling me that!" I snapped. "We aren't your kids, and you certainly aren't our dad, so stop acting like it."

Lilly's eyes grew big. Maddy looked like she was about to burst into tears again, and I knew I'd gone too far. I took a deep breath.

"If we go to the hospital, that involves the police," I said.

Uncle Anton frowned. "At this point, I don't see how that's a bad thing, Jack."

"If the police get involved, so will child protective services," Lilly said in a small voice. "Jack and I have discussed this. As long as we can manage..."

"We don't get separated," I said. "The moment we go to a hospital, that all goes out the window."

Uncle Anton nodded. "We'll see what Genique says when she gets here."

I looked at my sister. She was barely conscious, and Lilly was trying to keep her talking. She squeezed Mary's hand.

I leaned against the theater wall. My head was spinning, but I had to stay strong. Blood pooled on the ground. I should have been able to stop this. I'd failed. I'd failed, and now my family was finally broken.