When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 1

“The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again la…”

The cemetery was so quiet. Nelly let her phone drop to her side and just stared at the headstone in front of her. Her son’s photo was there, his smile forever frozen at age four. The sight of it always cut through her, sending just this slow, steady ache.

Why couldn’t he be here today? Why did she always have to do this alone?

“Nelly, it’s raining. I don’t think Mr. Garland and Carrie are coming. Why don’t I take you home?” Selina’s voice was gentle as she walked over, umbrella in hand.

Selina had already been there for over two hours, waiting with Nelly for her husband Brody and her daughter Carrie to show up. But deep down, they both knew no one else was coming.

There was never any love in Nelly and Brody’s marriage. Nelly was an orphan with nothing but a bit of beauty. She had never stood a chance with the Garland family. And as for Brody, the golden boy, he barely seemed to notice her at all.

Everyone in Westhaven knew about Brody’s first love. It was the kind of story people whispered about, a girl he would have risked everything for, a love so deep it was practically legendary.

“Please. I just… want to sit with Finn a little longer,” Nelly said quietly after a long pause.

She stepped away from Selina’s umbrella and sat down next to the headstone, her fingers tracing the outline of her son’s picture. It made her feel just a little closer to him, even if only for a moment.

Selina rolled her eyes, but her voice was soft. “It’s my friend’s birthday today. I really have to go. Promise you’ll take care of yourself.” She left her umbrella behind for Nelly and hurried off.

Brody had asked Selina to keep an eye on Nelly, but if Nelly wouldn’t listen, there wasn’t much anyone could do.

But he was the one who reached out and pulled her out of that darkness. That’s when Brody became the light in her heart.

Nelly promised herself she’d do whatever it took to stay by his side. After graduation, she landed the top spot in her interview at Garland Inc. For the first time, she got to see Brody every day.

But it didn’t matter how hard she tried. Brody always kept his distance, never too close, never letting her in. Sometimes they felt like family, but really they were just strangers living in the same house. Sometimes it felt like they were partners, but he could turn cold in an instant.

Brody was all principles, no feelings. At least, that’s how it seemed.

But then, one night, five years ago, everything changed.