Brad appeared in the doorway as Branna switched off the ignition. His blue eyes looked at her through the windscreen and then he was walking.
“That gene pool is just damn hot.” Branna sighed. “He swaggers like Ethan.”
Macy's laugh was half a sob. Her door opened and then there he was, crouching before her.
“Hey.”
“H-hey.”
“I'm sorry, baby.”
“M-me too.”
She felt Branna unclick her belt and then she was falling sideways into his arms. He eased back and sat on the drive holding her. He rested his head on hers, closed her inside his embrace, and simply held her. She felt the numbing cold slowly ease as he replaced it with warmth.
“He's not hurting now, honey. The pain's gone and he has peace.”
“I-I know.”
“It’s the people left behind who suffer.”
Macy wasn't sure how long she sat there huddled on his lap. Probably longer than she should, especially with her friends waiting for her inside.
“Mom's so upset. I-I’ve never seen her l-like this.”
“He was her life partner, Macy. There had to be love, even though she didn't always show it to you. They shared a lot together, and now she's facing her life without him.”
She rested on his chest and listened to the slow, steady thud of his heart while he talked.
“Billy's been a trooper today, but I have to tell you Razzle pooped inside. But we cleaned it up, and just to make you happy, I vacuumed twice.”
She felt laughter bubble up inside her.
“Although I couldn't find the gloves, I'm pretty sure you need to dust the living room.”
Her laugh sounded rusty, and pathetic, but it was a laugh.
“Tired?” he asked when she looked up at him.
“Crying makes you tired.”
“Among other things. You ready to face them now?”
“Of course.”
“I have to tell you about what happened in the Hoot, and I need you to check for gray hairs, because I'm pretty sure I got a few.”
He lifted her to her feet, then took her hand, and it felt good and right, but she knew it was only temporary.
“Friends.” He looked down at her. “We can do friends for now, Macy. Because you need that.”
“I do, and yes, let's be friends.”
Chapter 16
The entire town of Lake Howling turned out for the funeral of Harvey Reynolds. Delany had made sure it was grand, and the service was held down by the lake with a marquee set up for after.
People talked about Macy's father, and Brad learned about the man he had met only briefly. The man who had asked him to look after his girl.
