Falling for Danger

Breaking Point

Tori

I looked over at my unexpected visitor – Jack – and sighed softly. I was between patients when Jack had walked in. His whole posture was lit up with happiness as he talked about his partners, Hank and Corey. Normally, I would have been hanging onto his every word. But today, I felt oddly detached and distant. The words drifted around me, and I let out another sigh.

“I’m telling you, Tori. They have been so amazing. Corey’s job is going so well, and Hank has been talking about putting in a pool,” he went on. “What more could I ask for?” I forced myself to smile as I nodded along. My mind was elsewhere. I was happy for my brother, but I just felt like he wasn’t at all worried about me. Not once since he had walked in had he asked how I was doing. It was frustrating that my brother had become so self-absorbed. “Hey, are you even listening?” Jack suddenly asked as he leaned forward and glared over at me.

“Yes,” I hurriedly answered, but he didn’t look convinced.

“I mean, you seem a little out of it, are you ok?” he asked but it didn’t feel like he was asking out of concern.

“I’m fine,” I lied straight to his face. He seemed satisfied with that answer and immediately launched into another story about Hank’s latest cooking experiment and Corey’s enthusiasm for planning another trip. But the more he talked, the more disconnected I felt. It was as if I was listening, but not. Jack then sighed as he checked his watch.

“Anyway, I should go,” he said as he stood up. “I just wanted to stop by and catch up…you know what? Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight?” he questioned as he looked over at me. I hesitated because normally I would have jumped at the chance to spend more time with my brother, but a massive part of me resisted. I suddenly felt a bit tired. I was tired of playing the role of the supportive sister without ever feeling supported in return.

“No,” I said softly. “I’ll pass on dinner,” the words hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. Jack’s smile faltered and he frowned.

“What? Why?”

“I’m pretty tired, Jack,” I said as I shrugged.

“Well, I mean, it’s not as if we ask you over every night, Tori,” he snapped, and I actually rolled my eyes at him. “Hank and Corey would be happy to see you. After all, you could make more of an effort to get to know my partners,” I stared at him in complete and utter dismay. Surely, he wasn’t being serious.

“And I think they could make an effort as well. Yourself included,” I replied softly. The last thing I wanted was to get into a fight with my brother, but his selfishness had rubbed me the wrong way. Jack looked horrified, and I just knew I was about to get an earful.

“Unbelievable. You are being extremely ungrateful, Tori. We have always been there for you and this is how you treat us? How you treat me?” my eyes burned, and I clenched my fists as I felt the wave of frustration rise.

“Ungrateful? Far from it, Jack. Since the moment you have walked in here, all you have done is talk about yourself and your partners. You didn’t bother to ask me how I am…no, you only questioned what was wrong because you thought I wasn’t listening to you. Honestly, it just feels like you are wrapped up in your own life that you don’t see anything else around you,” Jack surprised me when he scoffed.

“That is pretty dramatic, Tori,” he stated as he crossed his arms. “In case you are forgetting, take a look at where we are. I came here to see you,” he looked around my office and I felt a pang of guilt. He was right about that. “When was the last time you set foot at the vineyard? When was the last time you stopped by to see me?”

“And maybe you should stop to ask yourself why that is,” I said slowly. “I am happy for you, Jack, but all I have done lately is listen. Listen to you talk about how great your life is, and you haven’t even noticed that I am struggling,”

“All I hear is how self-centered and dramatic you are being, Tori,” Jack said, and his tone was softer now. “I’m sorry that I have been self-absorbed with my life and my partners and that’s because I didn’t have that for so long. Finally, I have someone…no, two someone’s who I love and who loves me. I’m sorry that I want to shout it from the rooftops. I’m sorry that I want to share that part of my life with you. My sister,” he then stormed out and tears filled my eyes as I sunk back down in my chair and started to cry. I sat there for a moment, letting it all out and when I heard the door click open, I half hoped it was Jack. However, when I looked over and saw Naomi, I groaned.

“Tori? Goodness, are you all right?” she asked as she hurried over to me. I had completely forgotten that Naomi was my next appointment.

“Yes,” I said with a sniff as I quickly wiped my eyes. I grabbed a tissue from the box and as discreetly as I could, I blew my nose. “My apologies,”

“No, don’t apologize,” Naomi said as she continued to rub my back. “Do you want to talk about it?” she then asked. I chuckled as I shook my head. This was my office. It was my job. However, I realized that I did want to talk about it. Just not with her.

“As much as I appreciate that, Naomi, this is your appointment,” I said as I forced a smile and stood up. Naomi nodded as she headed over to the couch and sat down. There was only one person I wanted to talk to and that was Cole. I wasn’t even sure why, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t only listen, but he would give me concrete advice.