The Sins That Made Us

The Letter

The envelope had been sitting on the kitchen counter for twenty-three minutes.

Natasha knew because she'd checked the clock approximately every thirty seconds since finding it wedged between an electric bill and a feed-store flyer.

She hadn't touched it.

Not really.

She'd picked it up once.

Then immediately put it back down.

Now she stood on the opposite side of the kitchen staring at it like it might explode.

Texas.

Even from six feet away, she could see the university's name printed in the upper-left corner.

Her future was sitting inside that envelope.

Or her rejection.

One of the two.

And apparently she was going to stand here until she died rather than find out which.

Her phone buzzed against the counter.

Ariana: DID YOU OPEN IT???

Natasha grabbed her phone.

Natasha: No.

The typing bubble appeared immediately.

Ariana: NATASHA.

Natasha: I'm waiting for Mom and Dad.

Ariana: You're a psychopath.

Natasha: Probably.

Ariana: FACETIME ME WHEN YOU OPEN IT OR OUR FRIENDSHIP IS OVER.

Natasha smiled.

Natasha: Dramatic.

Ariana: OPEN THE FUCKING LETTER.

She laughed and set her phone down.

"Easy for you to say."

Ariana wasn't the one whose entire life was stuffed inside one stupid white envelope.

Natasha turned toward the kitchen window.

The view usually settled her.

Miles of Montana stretched beyond the glass, green pasture rolling toward mountains that looked blue beneath the afternoon sky. The barn sat beyond the house, its weathered red siding faded from years of snow, rain, and summers that never lasted long enough.

Near the fence, one of the horses lifted his head.

Ace.

Even from the house, Natasha recognized him instantly.

She'd recognize that horse in a field of a thousand.

Maybe she should go see him.

Actually, yes.

That was exactly what she should do.

She'd go to the barn, brush Ace, pretend the envelope didn't exist, and—

The front door opened.

"Nat?"

Shit.

Her mother's footsteps came through the mudroom.

"In here."

Mom appeared in the kitchen a moment later, pushing a strand of brown hair away from her face.