“Y’all always have these silent little conversations. Is it a brother thing or a twin thing?”
Griffin shrugs. “A bit of both.”
“Want to fill me in a bit?” Raven cocks her head.
“Yes, Scarlett was our high school girlfriend,” I start.
Raven’s eyes widen comically. “Were people accepting in the eighteen hundreds?”
“Brat,” Griffin comments as he pokes her side.
I continue the story. “Actually, no. We got a lot of shit from the town for our less-than-conventional relationship. We were sixteen and having fun. Then Scarlett didn’t show up to school. Her father led a huge search across all the neighboring counties, and what was found was her blood in a truck, her clothes in the bed, and a shovel with her blood on it as well.”
Raven gives me comfort by placing her hand on my shoulder. “Your father’s truck, right?”
I guess it’s a good thing she already knows that detail of the story. If it bothered her, she wouldn’t let me hold her right now.
I nod my head. “Yes. Amos, our father, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. It was a big deal because he was convicted without a body.”
“Scarlett’s body was never found?”
“Never,” I confirm.
Raven’s focus goes to her hands, searching for answers. “But what does Jed have to do with all of this? It’s possible that it’s a coincidence.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences,” I reply.
“Plus, the letter from Amos claiming his innocence and the phone call the other night,” Griffin adds.
“Wait. What phone call and what letter?” Raven rubs her head, and we explain both to her. Neither answer satisfies her. She jumps up from my lap and paces the room. “I don’t understand what any of this has to do with me. I’m just your neighbor.”
“Justthe neighbor?” Griffin asks incredulously.
Raven rolls her eyes. “You’re right. I’m also your bartender.”
“You’re more than that, Sunshine.”
Raven blinks excessively. “This isn’t how it was supposed to go.”
Griffin stands from the coffee table and blocks Raven’s path. When she tries to go around him, he gets hold of her wrists, keeping her in place. “What do you mean?”
“Mom?”
We all turn towards the stairs, where a bleary-eyed Noah stands half asleep.
“Hey, little king,” Raven coos, rushing to his side. “Did we wake you up?”
He shakes his head.
“Let’s get you back to bed.” Her head turns to us and says pointedly, “Griffin and Knox were just leaving.”
“We were?” Griffin asks sarcastically.
“Yes,” Raven answers with wide eyes, daring us to contradict her in front of Noah. With her hand held out to her side, she directs us to the front door.
I get up from the couch, my knees popping as I go, and follow Griffin to the entryway. In the open doorway, I turn to find Raven right on my heels. She gasps as I bend, putting my mouth against her ear. “You can go on whatever dates you want, Darlin’. But we both know they’ll all lead you to one place.” Grabbing her wrist, I guide her hand to my chest, right over my heart.
I need her to feel the cadence of my soul and know that it’s all for her.
