While he waited, he scrolled through his social media accounts, quickly got bored, then sent Evan and Wyatt each a text letting them know he’d made it home. He chuckled, suddenly amused at the contact he kept with his closest friends. How many grown men let each other know they’d arrived somewhere safely? But they weren’t merely friends—they were family.
Sixteen minutes later, he saw Cara’s car coming down the road. The moment they saw his truck sitting there, she sped up. Right before they came to the driveway, Cara must have slammed on the brakes, and after she slowed down, she jerked into the driveway.
He climbed down from his truck’s cab, crossed his arms and leaned casually against its tailgate. When his mom and sister’s squeals assailed him as they were jumping out of the car, he couldn’t keep his cool. A broad grin spread across his face, and he opened his arms to simultaneous hugs.
His mom stepped away, wiped away a tear, and then tweaked his cheek. “Why didn’t you say you were here?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“That you did.” She hugged him again. “Feel free to pull off that surprise anytime you want to.”
Cara tugged on his sleeve. “How long are you home for?”
He drew a long breath before answering. “For the rest of August.”
“For real?” Cara’s eyes widened, and she looped an arm through his. “I really get to see you for more than a few days?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Enough standing around.” His mom winked. “Help me carry my bags in the house, and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
Cara didn’t leave his side as they walked to her car. “You have to come spend some time at the Bar M. Jase and Tate will want to see you.”
“Of course.” He reached for the bags his mom handed him and saw they were all from a baby store. “What’s all this?”
When no one answered, he glanced from his mom to Cara and tilted his head. “You?”
She shook her head. A shadow clouded her eyes. “No. Lanie, Tate’s wife. We’re hosting a shower for her next week.”
“I’m sorry.” His heart sank with the reminder he wasn’t the only one who’d experienced hardships.
After a miscarriage last year, Cara had only recently decided she was ready to try again. She didn’t talk about it much with him, but he’d heard the pain in her voice the few times she had.
“It’s okay. I’m happy for Lanie, and since we both live at Bar M now, I’ll be able to get my baby fix anytime.” Her smile was a bit too forced for his liking.
He carried the bags to the house and waited for his mom to unlock the door. Once inside, he deposited the load on the counter and inhaled deeply. The house smelled like a freshly baked apple pie with extra cinnamon added—the scent he always associated with home. Even during the years Cara lived here alone, the aroma never left. Granted, his sister could bake a pie to please the harshest critic, so no artificial scents were needed during her residency.
Mom opened the freezer and peered inside before pulling out a pack of ground beef. “I’ll make shepherd’s pie if that sounds good to you.”
“You know it’s my favorite.” He laid a kiss on her cheek. “And no one makes it like you.”
Two hours later, after he’d gone with Cara to pick up their mother’s car and brought it home, he sat down at the table to eat. Savored two heaping portions of the shepherd’s pie. His mom had made homemade biscuits to go with dinner, and although his stomach was full, he grabbed another from the basket.
As he sliced one in half and then slathered it with butter, he felt two pairs of eyes on him and raised his head to see his mom and sister staring at him. He dropped the biscuit to his plate. “What?”
“I’m glad you’re home.” His mom took the napkin from her lap and dabbed at the corners of her mouth. She gave him that smile that saidI love you, but we have to talk. “But you’ve never come home for this long, and I see the shadows in your eyes.”
A quick glance at Cara’s face told him she agreed with their mom. Had they talked about him in the kitchen or was it that obvious?
The time to come clean faced him head on. This was why’d he’d come home, wasn’t it? To confide in them and lean on them for support. To break away from his downward spiral and find his way back.
He suddenly lost interest in the biscuit, pushed the plate away, and gulped down the remainder of his water. His hand shook, causing the glass to rattle when he set it down. “I’m not okay, and I need your help.”
Chapter Four
Sybil pulled her shirt up several inches to examine her stomach in the mirror. Those who didn’t know she was pregnant wouldn’t think twice about the small bulge if they even noticed it. She curved her arm and held it in front of her, imagined what she’d look like six months from now.
A terrified shiver shot through her. What did she know about babies and raising children? Very little. She couldn’t keep this child. Her head screamedadoption, but her heart whisperedkeep. It wasn’t fair to this baby growing inside of her to be stuck with a clueless mom. The little one deserved better.
