It had been four years since I was here last. Four years since Levi’s funeral. That had been the last time I stood in this town and let the weight of every whisper sit heavy on my shoulders. And now I was back again, trying not tonotice the girl who stuffed herself into a dinosaur suit to make people happy.
I started the engine, gravel crunching under the tires as I pulled out of the lot. Maggie was waiting, and that was all that mattered.
At least, that was what I told myself.
5
Easton
I parked the truck and gazed at my hands on the steering wheel a bit longer than needed. I worked hard for a living, and it showed in the cracks and crevices of my skin— the calluses I earned from hard work. Staring at the farmhouse, I took a deep breath. There was love here, but I wasn’t convinced grief wasn’t winning. The pangs in my chest each time I pulled into the yard made it hard to breathe.
The drive back from town had been short, but the whispers still clung to me. I could practically hear them when I closed my eyes. I’d always thought that the people in town had an unnatural curiosity about the Holt’s adopting all of us. They acted like they didn’t mean anything by it, like they were just being polite, but I’d grown up on the sharp end of pity and suspicion. I knewbetter. Chloe always thought I was making a problem where there wasn’t one, but …
I grabbed the grocery bag and cinnamon rolls, boots crunching on the gravel as I crossed to the porch. Kipp was here, and I was sure to get crap as soon as I walked in, but part of me loved being back around my siblings. I missed them.
Maggie was sitting in her recliner, a blanket tucked around her lap, a book open, though she clearly hadn’t been reading, but her eyes lit when she spotted me. “There’s my boy,” she said softly.
Something in me cracked clean through. I bent down, kissed her forehead, and set the cinnamon roll box next to her. “How are you feeling? Does your leg ache?”
“Better now.” Her hand brushed mine before she nodded toward the box. “Tell me you nabbed me a cinnamon roll.”
“Of course, I got them. I wouldn’t let you down.”
She smiled. “Some days they sell out, so you need to be quick. Did you see Lila?”
Behind me, Kipp smirked faintly, enjoying my discomfort. He pulled out the milk and bread as if he were checking my work. “Didn’t know you remembered how to grocery shop.”
“Hey, jerkwad, I manage just fine. I’m a big boy now, living on my own and all. I can grocery shop.” I shot him a look, but he only leaned back against the counter, arms crossed again. Same old Kipp giving me shit. “Yeah, I saw Lila. She was dressed in an inflatable dinosaur suit.”
Maggie’s eyes lit up with curiosity. “For book club?Oh, wait, don’t tell me.” She closed her eyes. “She’s such a clever girl.” Her eyes popped back open. “Jurassic Park?” Her hand found mine. Her skin felt thinner, but her grip was warm. “Am I right?”
“That’s the one. Way to go, Mags.” It did my heart good to see her happy. “So, this is something Lila does for book club? The costumes?”
“Oh, my. Yes. We all love it. She makes it exciting.” Her eyes lit up. “She’s so clever.”
“Maggie is in the book club with Janice and Marge,” Kipps supplied. “I’m sure Janice will be here today with her copy of the book. They’re thick as thieves.”
“I’m sorry I missed the reveal,” Maggie said sadly. “That girl always goes all out on the day we get our copies. She makes special treats, too. Every month, Lila does something new and exciting for our little book club. Sometimes there are bingo nights.” I knew Mags loved a bingo night. “Nora was right to leave the business to her. Not that she had much choice, seeing as that son of hers disappeared and all.” Maggie clucked her tongue with disapproval.
The book club did sound pretty interesting. Despite myself, I was intrigued. I could tell Maggie was waiting for me to ask for the gossip on Lila, but my lips were glued shut even when questions were burning in my gut.
“I’m sorry you missed it, but Janice will get your things,” Kipp soothed. “She’s a good friend. If East had known, he would have gotten them for you. I’m sure he was dazzled by Lila in that dinosaur suit.” He coughed through a laugh that told me he’d be giving me all sorts ofshit later and made me wonder if the little firecracker had been wearing that suit around town before. I could picture it now.
It would have been easy for me to grab the book and whatever else went along with book reveal day, but I hadn’t exactly introduced myself or been very polite. I’d been an idiot. Lila had knocked me over… Well, I had tried to catch her. It had been my own doing. Now, I felt like a double ass because Maggie was upset for missing her club. We could have figured something out.
Maggie’s words filtered through the haze of my thoughts, “… so glad, Easton. They’ve been trying hard, but it’s been a lot for them.” Her eyes settled on Kipp.
Right. Poor Kipp, I thought, rolling my eyes at him. “Don’t worry, Mags. I’ll take some of that load,” I promised, glancing at him. He didn’t say much, but he didn’t argue either, which told me he hadn’t been bothered by the extra responsibilities. None of us would begrudge helping Maggie out. “What time is physical therapy?”
“Eleven thirty. Right before lunch.” Kipp looked over to the grandfather clock. “While you’re in town, I could use you out on the property.” He looked over the rim of his coffee mug pointedly.
Kipp had bought some acreage outside of town right after Levi died, with creek frontage. He’d been talking in our group chat about putting in cabins to rent for out-of-towners. I’d been surprised because Kipp wasn’t much of a people person, but maybe I had it all wrong.
“Sure. I’d be happy to help you. Looking forward to seeing what you have planned out there.”
It would be exciting to see in person what my siblings were up to. Sage had her business (that I still needed to see), and now Kipp. This was a huge deal, and helping build a few cabins was something I could totally do. I should have come back sooner.
Instead, I’d spent four years building a business in Boise, telling myself I was doing the right thing by making my own way, not leaning on the family that had once saved me. I’d buried my grief and called it strength. Now it just felt like selfishness. When I’d come back this time, I’d been torn about staying. A big part of me had already had my foot out the door, thinking that once Maggie’s rehab was done, I’d be gone back to Boise, but now I was stupidly thinking about Lila Merrick.
