“They want to meet you. Harry, Oliver, and Iris.”
Porter wiped at his face and visibly tried to contain his emotions.
“They want to meet Ford and Sunday as well, and, maybe, somehow heal this family.”
Long moments of silence followed Gus’s words, and he wasn’t sure that Porter had even heard them until he looked up, faded eyes shiny with tears. “Thank you for this gift. For this second chance to make things right.”
Gus gave a curt nod.
“I’ll need to talk to the twins. To somehow explain.” He looked up at Gus. “I meant what I said earlier. Ford will need you. This town will need you.”
Gus shook his head. He wasn’t getting caught up in the moment and making any decisions based on emotion.
“Fire Lake isn’t my home. I’ve built a life in DC. Built a business that requires a lot of travel and time and energy. I don’t see myself laying down roots here.”
Porter held his gaze and then, wavering, looked away. “Thank you for your honesty.”
Gus stepped back, feeling like an actor in a scene he didn’t quite understand. “Talk to Ford and Sunday. Ford has my cell number. He can call me when he’s ready.” He paused. “Do you want me to take you back up to the house?”
“The nurse will be along soon. It’s time for my medications.”
It was an awkward goodbye, and Gus headed to the house. He skirted the building and took the path that led through the forest and found Walker at cottage one.
Walker set down his paintbrush and walked over.
“Looks good.” Gus stood back and nodded.
“There are just a few things left. Minor stuff inside. I’ve told the crew tomorrow is their last day. I figure you and I can finish up the details and be done by the weekend.” Walker glanced at him. “Did you see your old man?”
“He knew all along.”
Walker didn’t look all that surprised. “There is a bit of a family resemblance.”
Maybe Gus had been looking at this wrong because he didn’t see it. He decided to change the subject and broached the one that had been eating at him since before he’d left for DC.
“Have you talked to Faith at all?”
“Saw her last night. She looks good all considering.”
“Considering?”
Walker looked at Gus as if he was dense. “Have you watched the news at all?”
“News?” Confused, he scowled. “I have enough shit to deal with in my family without adding to it by watchingCNN.”
“So, you don’t know.”
“Can you stop talking in code and tell me what the fuck is going on?”
Walker doffed his ball cap and ran hands through the long hair at his nape. “Faith is the stepdaughter of Michael Brooks. The owner of Inteli Corp.”
Gus frowned. “He was arrested a couple months back.”
Walker nodded. “Big embezzlement scheme. Hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Shit. “She never said anything.”
“Pretty sure Faith came out here to escape. To lay low. It couldn’t have been easy for her. You know the drill in this day and age. Death threats. Ugly online shit. But she blew that door wide open. Apparently, she provided a sworn statement to the Justice Department a few days ago, and her mother, who was out on bail, was re-arrested yesterday. It’s been all over the news.”
