Before I can open my mouth, Eli walks out of one of the cottages, practically barreling right into Walker, holding an old worn-out and faded LEGO box. “Found this in one of the closets. Garbage?”
My heart pounds as I stare at Eli like he’s holding a bomb. Since the Daffodil Festival, I’ve only focused on Walker. He’s been a perfect distraction from my grief and guilt over missing last year’s festival with my father, but seeing that old LEGO set blows every sense of peace I’ve stitched together to smithereens.
Everyone’s looking at me for a response, but words fail me. I’m sure my sister and mother feel the same way, but I can’t look at them right now or I’ll break down and lose it.
“I’ll take it,” Walker says, his voice softer now, his anger diminishing. I want to rush toward him and throw my arms around him. Want to thank him for dealing with my daddy’s LEGO because apparently my mother, my sister, nor I can do it.
“I’ve got to grab something,” my mother says, her voice filled with emotion.
I glance toward her right as Penny nods to me. “I’ve got her.”
The two of them disappear, and I feel my heart teetering on the edge of shattering. I want to go to them. Want to help. But I never know what to say. And I can’t get my feet to move.
Walker grabs the box from Eli, turning on his heel to get back to work.
“Oh, before you go,” Rayna calls, somewhat breaking the tension. “Are you going to be at the town meeting this week?”
Walker turns around and frowns. “Why would I?”
“Because of the grand marshal campaign,” Babs explains.
“I’m not running,” Walker grounds out.
The entire group gasps in surprised shock.
“You’re not?” Rosie asks.
“He doesn’t have a choice in the matter.” Rayna cuts him with a hard look. “One doesn’t say no to being nominated.”
“Why?” Walker deadpans.
“Because you don’t,” Rayna retorts before turning to me. “Tell him, Tallulah. Tell him how much it meant to your daddy.”
“I—um, yes he—” As I struggle for words through the sadness, I feel Walker’s hulking presence behind me.
Breaking my rules, he places his hand on my hip and squeezes. “What time is the meeting?”
Rayna’s lips curve in satisfaction, and suddenly I don’t want to be around any of them anymore.
“Seven p.m. on Thursday,” she replies. “We’ll see you then. Tallulah, are you going to sit down and take a break?”
“No,” Walker replies for me. It takes exercising every muscle in my body not to relax into his chest in relief. Because with him, I’m safe. With him, I’m seen. “Tallyis coming with me. We’ve got flowers to deal with.”
“Is ‘flowers’ a euphemism for ‘sex’?” I ask as Walker drags me into the house.
Walker doesn’t reply. Instead, he paces ahead of me toward the kitchen until something stops him and he spins on his heels, stalking back to me. I back up against the door, not sure what to make of his hard jaw and wild eyes.
“Why do you do that?” he hisses.
“Do what? Make jokes about sex?” It’s a weak attempt at our usual banter, and Walker’s palm landing with a thump against the door, right beside my shoulder, makes it clear he thinks the same.
He heaves in a long breath. “Why do you let people treat you that way?”
I frown. “Huh?”
“Your sister, your mother, Rayna Fucking McGovern.Why do you let people treat you like you don’t care? You have absolutely no problem putting me in my place. Why didn’t you put Rayna in hers?”
My eyes roam over his face and then, when I can’t stand to see the desperation there, the way he’s trying so hard to understand me, I look away. My gaze lands on the dining room table, with all of my father’s papers strewn on top. His chair sits just behind, and my heart sinks at the sight.
