“Hey, Princess. You been good for Uncle Kay?”
“Yep. So good, he let me get a double chocolate chip cookie!”
Eastern groaned as he reached the table. “Double chocolate chip? Really?”
Kayden lifted a shoulder. “I’m trying to be the favorite. It’s not easy with Cody breathing down my neck with his bar pretzels.”
“I thought you’d still be a while?” Avery asked.
“Got off early and knew Uncle Kay was bringing you here, so I thought I’d join.”
When Mrs. Sandler put the cookie on a plate, Avery ran to the counter.
Kayden took in the dark circles shadowing Eastern’s eyes. “You okay, brother?”
“Yeah, I just haven’t been sleeping well since we found Macy.”
Kayden’s hands fisted at the mention of the mountain stabbing. “Still no leads?”
“Nothing. No witnesses. No evidence left at the scene.” He ran fingers through his hair, frustration brimming on his face. “That’s not the only thing bothering me, though… I spoke to Jamie last night.”
Flickers of rage moved through Kayden at the mention of Avery’s mother. “Is she coming back?”
“Nope. When she finally answered one of my calls, she said she’d be backsoon…and her words were slurred.”
Fuck.
Alcohol was a problem Eastern hadn’t even realized Jamie had. He’d only learned about it after the woman had left, and Avery had told him how bad it had gotten.
Kayden hated that he hadn’t been able to be a bigger part of his niece’s life when he’d first returned to town, but Jamie had barely let him see her, and Eastern had still been in the Navy.
“She wanted to speak to Avery, and I told her to call back when she was sober,” Eastern continued.
Kayden’s back teeth ground together. “Good. Are you worried she’ll come back and want Avery?”
“Yes. But everything’s documented, included what Avery’s said about her drinking and the reports from school, stating she often attended without lunch and in dirty clothes. I’m applying for full custody.”
“Anything I can do to help, you let me know.” His brother was an amazing father, and if anyone could give the kid everything she needed, it was him.
“Thanks.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “How are you? Doing okay with Matilda Taylor taking over as office manager at work?”
Was he doing okay with it? Hell no. “Yeah. It’s fine.”
Fine. What an understatement. It didn’t even begin to describe how cradling her cheek last night had affected him. How every time he was around her, he felt something he absolutely should not be feeling…and how that scared the hell out of him.
CHAPTER 8
Tilly wrapped her jacket tightly around her waist as she walked down the path. She was late. Late to meet Jake at the Sunday Market because that damn car had thrown rotten eggs on her houseagain, and she’d spent close to an hour cleaning up the mess.
Argh.
And to make matters worse, she hadn’t gotten there in time to get the license plate. She’d had enough. She’d even ordered security cameras, but the damn things hadn’t arrived yet.
Where did they get off thinking they could harass her like this? What had she done to them? Not her father,her? She wanted to know whatshe’ddone.
But then, she already knew the answer to that…nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Hurrying, she pulled her phone from her pocket.
