A/N: This chapter will make more sense if you've read the first book of this series- Glass Child. If you haven't read it, and don't want to; I get it, it's long. There is a TDLR at the end of this chapter to summaries it.
Cat scrolled through her phone calendar, the endless blocks of studio time, meetings, rehearsals, and appearances filling every available square. But this week, there was a break—a rare, precious few days that she had managed to carve out. As much as she just wanted to spend that time with Jade, she'd decided to book a trip to Idaho. she wasn't entirely sure why she did it, the ticket confirmation sitting in her inbox didn't feel real. She hadn't seen her parents since her graduation, so it was about time she tried to reconnect with her family. But the thought of going filled her with an anxious tension she couldn't quite shake.
Her parents had been asking her to visit for months now, eager for updates on her career, her life, everything they'd missed. They wanted to be more involved—she knew that. But when she thought back on her childhood, on all the times she'd longed for their attention or wished they'd noticed her, she felt a sting of resentment. They'd had their chance to be part of her life, to support her when she was younger. Now, as cruel as it sounded, she barely had time for herself, let alone time to allocate to rebuilding that trust with them.
Idaho was a strange, quiet place to her. It was remote and simple, worlds away from the chaotic swirl of her current life. She thought about her brother, who had been doing better at the medical facility her parents had moved for. They had told her how much he'd improved, how they wished she'd come and see him. But she hadn't brought herself to face him yet, unsure if she could handle what might come up if she did. It'd been almost a year since they moved, since she last saw Matteo during that fit of rage. She loved him dearly, but, ultimately had been struggling to come to terms with that day since it had happened. Honestly, she was scared of him now.
As the plane touched down, Cat's stomach twisted with nerves. She'd managed to busy herself through the flight, flipping through notes for her album and listening to old demos, but now there was no more time to fill. She was here.
Stepping into the airport, she scanned the crowd until she saw them—her parents, waiting eagerly just beyond the security line. Her mom waved with both hands, grinning, and her dad stood beside her. They looked different somehow, even from the last time she'd seen them. Calmer, lighter.
She took a deep breath and walked over, managing a smile as her mom pulled her into a tight hug, nearly lifting her off the ground. "Oh, Cat! We've missed you so much!" her mom exclaimed, squeezing her before stepping back to get a good look at her.
Her dad gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder, his face kind and warm. "You look good, kiddo."
They made their way to the car, her mom asking questions almost nonstop about her career, her life traveling around for the tour, all the usual things she knew her mom had been wondering about for months. Cat answered politely, giving just enough detail, but her mind drifted as she stared out the window at the vast, open landscape of Idaho, so different from LA.
As they turned onto a quiet road lined with fields, her parents pointed out the small town landmarks they'd grown to know. Finally, they arrived at the little house her parents now called home. It was modest, cozy, with flower beds by the porch and big windows that looked out onto fields stretching to the horizon. Cat felt a pang of surprise seeing them here, in this unassuming place that didn't quite match the picture she'd always had of her parents.
She noticed the little details—a hand-painted mailbox, wind chimes by the door—and something struck her. They seemed… happier here. It was as if the quiet life away from LA had given them a sense of peace she hadn't seen in them before. Her mom had once been consumed by the fast pace of their old life, always trying to keep up appearances, always pushing for more. But here, she looked grounded.
"Come inside, honey!" her mom called, already heading up the steps. "We've got your room all set up, and I can make some tea if you'd like."
Cat followed them in, glancing around the small, cozy living room filled with her mom's decorations—brightly coloured pillows, framed photos, plants on every windowsill. It was undeniably homey. They settled in, her mom bustling around to make tea while her dad shared updates about their lives here.
"Oh, and I'm teaching dance classes again," her mom said with a proud smile as she poured the tea. "Nothing big, just at the community centre, but it feels good to get back to it."
Cat raised her eyebrows, surprised. "Really? That's great, Mom."
Her mom nodded. "It's good to be around people, you know? And your dad's even taken up gardening—he's actually getting pretty good at it!"
Her dad chuckled, a bit embarrassed. "I had to learn something to keep busy around here."
As they laughed, Cat felt a strange, bittersweet tug. They had settled into a new life, made it their own, found happiness in ways she hadn't expected. And for a moment, she envied the simplicity of it—the quiet routines, the lack of pressure. Here, they seemed to have found a version of themselves that wasn't about trying to keep up with anyone or anything. They had gotten their lives back. Matteo lived at the centre, they kept him there almost 24/7- he was getting better, they told her. They'd been focused on weening him off all his medications and starting again. It turned out a lot of his problems were just the meds reaction against one another- but there was still a lot of work to be done to make sure he was stable.
Her mom touched her arm, her eyes warm. "We're just so glad you're here, honey. I know it's been a while, but… we want you to feel welcome. Like this can still be home, if you ever want it to be."
Cat managed a small smile, grateful but uncertain. This place wasn't her home- her home was back in LA with Jade. But even that felt weird now. She was barely ever with Jade, and she could tell it was starting to affect her. She'd made a few friends at College- but ultimately she could tell Jade felt lonely now.
They spent the evening catching up, her parents eagerly filling in the gaps of everything that had happened in the past year. Her dad spoke about his gardening projects with a pride that made Cat smile—a tiny vegetable patch, a row of sunflowers, even a few raspberry bushes that he swore would thrive by next spring. Her mom talked about her dance students, her eyes lighting up as she described the little kids who couldn't keep rhythm and the teenagers who danced with a kind of passion she admired.
Cat listened, sipping her tea, watching the life they'd built here take shape in front of her. She found herself smiling at their stories, feeling her guard lower ever so slightly.
But the topic of her brother was an looming presence in every story, a shadow that hung over their cheerful chatter. Each time, Cat changed the subject.
After dinner, her mom suggested they take a walk around the neighborhood. The air was cool, the early evening quiet and calm. Her parents led her down winding streets lined with small, tidy homes, the kind of neighborhood that felt worlds away from the fast-paced city life Cat was used to. Her mom linked her arm with Cat's as they walked, her face serene in a way Cat hadn't seen in years.
It was nice to walk somewhere unexpected. She wasn't at the level of fame where people swarmed her everywhere she went, but there was seemingly at least one or two people each day who stopped her for a photo or a signature, and the occasional paparazzi following her around. And when one person stopped her, there was always someone else who would notice her from it, and then another- once it started it was sometimes hard to get away. But here, she didn't feel like she needed to keep an eye out. No one would be expecting her to be in a tiny town in Idaho, so there was no one looking too deep into who she was. It was nice.
When they reached a small park nearby, her mom slowed, looking at Cat with a kind but serious expression. "I know it's a lot, seeing everything changed like this. But I hope you know how much it means to us that you came."
Cat nodded, unsure of what to say. "I'm… glad to see you both doing well."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching a few kids chase each other around the playground. Finally, her mom spoke, her voice soft. "Your brother's been asking about you. He's doing better, Cat. A lot better. I think he'd love to see you, if you're ready for that."
Cat's chest tightened. She looked away, struggling to find the words. "I don't know if I can," she said quietly. "I mean, it's been so long. And it's… complicated."
Her mom nodded, her face understanding, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I get that. It's been hard for him, too. But he misses you. We tell him about how you're off singing now. He doesn't quite understand what that means but he likes when we play your songs to him."
Cat took a deep breath, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on her. The memories of their childhood, the ups and downs, the young Matteo that was full of love- the one that slowly went away. The confused boy that he grew to be, his mental health slipping away. And then the last time she saw him- the chair, the pain, the broken ribs... A part of her wanted to see him, to bridge the distance between them. But another part of her felt frozen, afraid of what might come up if she faced him.
"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice barely a whisper.
Her mom nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "That's all I ask."
They walked back home in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When they reached the house, her dad went inside, but her mom lingered on the porch, looking up at the stars.
"We know we've missed a lot," her mom said quietly, almost as if talking to herself. "But we're here now, Cat. And I want you to know that… we're not going anywhere this time."
Cat looked at her, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite put into words. She didn't know if she could trust it, this new version of her family. But as she looked at her mom, standing there under the Idaho night sky, she felt a small flicker of hope.
"I'll try," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I can't promise anything, but… I'll try."
Her mom smiled, her eyes glistening with tears. "That's all we want."
TLDR - Cat's parents moved to Idaho after her bother, Matteo (or Matty) attacked her during one of his mental breakdowns. He's an ex-drug addict & schizophrenic, amongst other things. They moved around a year ago and Cat hadn't seen them since she graduated (which was days before this book began). She goes to see them because she missed her family but also, resents them for leaving her and how she was neglected by her parents during childhood as they prioritised Matty. She wishes she had the time to properly reconnect but is simply too busy at the moment.