Silence settled over the table, because we all knew thatabout Kipp. He did like the quiet, which was why the idea of him owning a little compound of cabins that would be filled with strangers seemed … strange. I suppose it even seemed strange to him.
Then Sage, bless her, cleared her throat. “It’s going to be amazing, however you end up working it out. Still want that raccoon.” She winked at him.
“No way.” He reached over and ruffled her hair. “I’d have to arrest you.”
“Geez.” Sage dodged out of his reach, breaking away as her eyes sparkled. “Speaking of beautiful projects,” she said sweetly, “Lila and I are going to have a girls’ night. Chloe, you want in?”
I stiffened, fork pausing halfway to my mouth. She buttered a roll like she hadn’t just dropped that grenade in the middle of my plate. A girl’s night? Lila was going to go out?
“I’ve been missing her. She deserves a night out, especially after that terrible break-in.” Maggie said, her eyes twinkling. “Maybe tomorrow, one of you can get me over to the bookstore for book club. I’m behind on my stamps and reading my chapters. I can’t miss another meeting.”
“We’ll get you over to the bookstore for sure. I’m definitely in for a girls’ night,” Chloe added, grinning. “The Public House is always fun. I can’t wait to hear all about Lila’s next ideas if we can pry them out of her after a few cocktails. I want hints.”
I cleared my throat, finally setting down my fork. “She’s driving me crazy. That dinosaur suit,” I muttered under my breath. I shifted in my seat. It came out louderthan I meant, and Sage’s smirk told me she’d heard exactly what I’d said.
I’d tried to replace the glass broken out of her back door, but she’d already ordered a piece, which, for some reason, pissed me off. It bothered me that her home was unsecured, but it wasn’t my call. Then I’d sat in her shop the last few mornings to make sure she was feeling okay, but the attraction was definitely mutual. Her hot little eyes would drift to me constantly while she went about her morning chores, bopping to whatever music she was listening to.
“Speaking of businesses,” Chloe said, rescuing me. “East, how’s your contracting going?”
“Good,” I said, pushing on. “Picked up a few jobs already. Fencing, porch repairs, and a kitchen remodel over in Alder Valley. Once I get settled here, I’ll take on bigger projects.”
“That’s wonderful,” Maggie said warmly. “Glad to hear that you’re getting some business.”
Her words lodged deep in my chest. She always had a way of making me feel like I was more than just getting by. I didn’t bother mentioning that my company was doing more than fine. We had projects lined up for the next year, enough to require hiring more staff. I’d told them I had a team up in Boise, teams. The company was making plenty of money, and I’d stuck all the profits with an investment broker. I didn’t need any fancy shit. If something came up here at home, or one of my siblings needed something, that was what I’d use it for. Work was all I needed.
Dinner carried on in that old Holt way, voices overlapping,stories tumbling over each other. Shoving another forkful of green beans in my mouth, I sat back and watched the banter going on, all the forks pointing and the teasing. Maggie caught my eye and gave me a wry smile. Yeah, busted.
Our family wasn’t conventional. But we had filled every second with life and memories. We were family in every sense of the word. We found each other here. Maybe I was still a little torn up, maybe we all were in our own ways, but having them as the backbone of who we were felt like a great starting point.
“Tell them about what you did today, Mom,” Chloe said, reaching for the green beans.
“I walked to the mailbox and back,” Maggie announced, puffing up a little. “I’m getting good on these crutches.”
“You did not,” Sage exaggerated, beaming. “Lo, why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I’m betting that she wanted to brag herself,” Wade said dryly. Instantly picking up on the fact that Maggie did indeed want to brag a little.
“She should,” I cut in, feeling protective. “Mags is amazing. She’s capable and strong.” Even though it killed me a little that she felt she had to stand (or hop) on her own. I wouldn’t bother to tell her that I’d watched her the whole way there and the whole way back from the doorway of the barn just to make sure she didn’t fall.
“Move it or lose it,” Maggie said, lifting her fork. “You all act like I’m ancient. I was a machine, though, East. Should have seen it. You young people take note.” Shepointed her fork at us. “If you don’t keep going when things begin to ache, you just freeze like that. Got to stay limber.”
“You’re only half ancient,” Kipp teased, and Maggie swatted his arm with her napkin. “But you’re awesome, Mags. If only everyone were as tough as you and as dedicated to their physical therapy. And don’t talk about being limber.” He fake gagged.
They’d been encouraging her to go out on a date or see someone here in town so she’d have some company now that Levi was gone. He never would have wanted her to be alone. Chloe, in particular, was an advocate of her mom finding someone, but I didn’t think Maggie was on board. I didn’t say anything about the topic because the idea of seeing her with someone else had my stomach in knots, and I had no right to be upset about it.
Chloe launched into a story about one of her patients, careful not to share any names. She was very serious about protecting client privilege, and in a town as small as ours, that was important. Not that we would gossip, but there were a few times in our lives where we’d been on the receiving end, and it wasn’t a lot of fun.
Sage described a customer who asked whether roses could cure heartbreak, which made Wade roll his eyes again and made us all laugh. If there was anyone less of a believer in superstitions, it was Wade. Kipp muttered something about chainsaws, and Sage leaned over to tell him she’d gift one of her pressed flowers for his logbook if he wanted. He just shook his head. Kipp, like my sister, kept his own journal.
Levi instilled in all of us, from an early age, the importance of having a private, personal outlet for our emotions. All our counselors advocated for journals, and Levi and Maggie were on board. The only change Levi suggested was that we could make our journals into anything we wanted, even recording lists of things that were important to us or collecting items that held meaning. While Sages’ journals focused on her flower pressing, Kipp’s were daily logbooks.
I never kept one, but I had tried. I watched my siblings keep theirs, and it seemed to calm their minds. Instead, I found working with my hands to be the best outlet I could ask for.
By the time pie hit the table, the air was thick with laughter, the kind that only came from people who’d survived hard things together. Maggie’s fall. Levi’s death. The years before, when none of us had any family at all.
Later, when I helped Maggie to her recliner and tucked a blanket over her, she caught my hand. “You’re doing good, East,” she said softly. “Levi would be proud.”
I swallowed, nodding once. That was what I wanted. I’d always wanted to make them both proud.
