Grady hated being the problem child, singled out for this gathering of the clans, as everyone either gave him a thumbs up or whispered their well wishes—as if he’d gotten a cancer diagnosis or was told he had months tolive.
The truth was, his family didn’t think he could do anything right without them and all theiropinions.
Grady backed away from the commotion and spotted Linx at the opposite side of the great room, standing under a portrait of a strikingly beautiful brunette—probably hermother.
The woman had long, dark brown hair and a wild, free-spirited glaze in her eyes. She wore beads in her hair and masses of silverjewelry.
Grady could picture her living in a gypsy wagon, never settling in one place, telling fortunes and causing havoc in people’slives.
He stepped toward the grand piano and studied the family pictures crowded on top of the dusty lid. Across the room, Linx studied him, so he kept his expressionneutral.
The wedding picture was old and faded, showing a young cowboy, Joe Colson, with his hippie bride complete with ribbons in her hair, dressed in a flowing multi-colored gown. They looked happy enough, even though he was steady as a rock and she was wrapped around him like slivers of runningwater.
Then, the children started to appear, and the pictures were still happy. Grady counted the children until he reached the one where Linx was thebaby.
Gasping, he stepped back. In each of the previous pictures, Linx’s mother held the baby, the father held the next oldest, and the older ones gatheredaround.
The one with Linx wasdifferent.
Joe held the tiny infant in his arms, but his smile was strained, while Linx’s mother hugged Chad, the next oldest. Her body language was partially turned away from the infant who had her fists clenched, eyes wide and haunted, and looking like analien.
Had Linx beenadopted?
He glanced up at her and she gave him a scowl, crossing herarms.
He started toward her, but the door opened and a stern, serious-looking woman in a gray suit stalked in. She lowered her eyeglasses and peered at him for a brief second before heading toward Linx and embracingher.
It was Becca, of course, and her first words to Linx were, “Let me guess, he’s the one casing the room from behind the grandpiano.”
The women peered at him again, so he turned away from them right as Cait rushed towardBecca.
While the women went on about Cait’s pregnancy, Grady sidled up toLinx.
“Are we going to get time with her?” he whispered, tugging heraside.
Linx put a finger over his lips. “Let’s get Becca alone after dinner for theconsult.”
“I don’t think any of us can eat a crumb until we know. I can’t believe your dad invited my entirefamily.”
“He didn’t know about me asking Becca to come until it was too late. He saw them at the diner. I’msorry.”
“Don’t be.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I liked you better when you were never sorry foranything.”
Linx jutted out her lip. “You’re right. No sense wallowing when we have to get on with ourlives.”
“That’s my Linx.” He kissed her lightly and grabbed her elbow. “Now, go separate Becca from the herd so we can meet somewhereprivate.”
Linx pushed her way to her sister’s side, but a middle-aged woman stepped from the kitchen banging a pot, cutting heroff.
“Time for dinner,” she shouted. “We have a buffet set up on the farmhouse table and barbecue outback.”
“Wait!” Cait held up her hand. “We need to know Grady’schances.”
Count on Cait to put business and bossiness first before food. Good for her. He needed answers, and God help him if the case were a lostcause.
“We want to consult with Becca in private,” Linx shouted above Cait’s demands. “You guys go out back and getstarted.”
His family looked reluctant to leave, even though the rest of the Colson clan made gestures, inviting them tofollow.
