My vision is blurred. My jaw is clenched so tight it aches. I stare at the tire tracks of Cole’s truck.
He’s hurt. He’s grieving.
But he was sober. No sober man comes to another man’s house threatening to take their kid away and not mean it. But Ihaveto believe this’ll pass.
My hands fist at my sides and for the first time in months, I feel the need to scream.
The front door swings open behind me. I hear Dad’s hard steps on the gravel a minute later.
“Why’d you send her out here?” I ask, not bothering to turn back.
“Who? Oh, you mean Willow. Well, tarts were gettin’ cold.”
I turn. “You noticed the ring on her finger.”
“Hard not to.”
I rub my hand along my jaw.
“Did it work?” he asks flat out.
“And you’re still assuming she has nothing to go back to?”
“Son, when you’ve lived as long as I have you know a single woman when you see one.”
I kick the dirt, not about to analyze that one. “Well, it didn’t work. He didn’t buy it.”
His eyes trail the tire tracks. “He’s not the one you need to convince.”
“Convince of what?” I snap, but Dad keeps his tone cool, like some damn therapist.
“That Ellie is coming into a warm, secure, and loving family environment. Not one shrouded in grief.”
I swallow down the fear. “Get real. No social worker is going to take that man seriously. He’ll be fine by morning.”
He won’t be fine by morning. He won’t be fine for a while. But it doesn’t matter. He’s just as alone as I am. If there’s going to be a fight, it’s going to be an equal one.
“Ask her to stay,” Dad says firmly behind me.
I snap my head back like he’s out of his mind.
But I don’t focus on how serious he might be about Willow staying.
Because she’s standing at the top of the porch steps.
With her suitcase.
11
“I just said goodbye to Ellie. Ginger is making her supper now, figured it’s as good a time as any to get going,” I say, hoping he doesn’t catch the wavering in my voice because the last thing I want to do right now—is go.
The bag felt heavier when I dragged it out here moments ago. I’ve been in Blue River Springs less than a week, but it’s the time I spent in this house, with this man and that little girl, that has my feet feeling fused not just to the pavement—but to the land itself.
That part doesn’t scare me—driving away from the wide skies, clean air, and a home surrounded by nature’s beauty. The part that does .?.?. is admitting that if you take away those two breathing souls from the equation, I’d be halfway to New York by now with nothing left to lose. Admitting that in the last two days, I’ve felt braver, steadier, and more alive than I have in years. I attacked a strange man in the dark of a home I thought was temporarily abandoned. Then stuck around and called him out on being a stubborn jackass. I helped transform this gem of a building into a home where he can raise a daughter he’s been given a second chance with.
I’m not saying I belong here. But I’m supposed to just get on a plane and pretend I’ve got something better to go back to?
Connor gives Dallas a pointed look before coming up the stairs. “Thanks,” he murmurs.
