“Yes.”
“Did they say anything else?” Her eyes shifted to a wary expression.
“Only a warning to be a good friend.”
A nervous laugh came from her, sounding hollow and tin. “I’m sorry about all that.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” She hunched her shoulders and retreated into herself.
The image made his stomach coil into knots. This wasn’t the Jessa he’d come to know. He crooked a finger under her chin and gently lifted it until their eyes met. “It’s okay. Goodness only knows you’ve been introduced to the skeletons in my family’s closet.”
“You don’t understand.” A teardrop escaped.
“Give me a chance to try.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Not here. We have an hour before the flotilla starts. Let’s go to Addy’s where it’s warmer.”
Without a word, he wrapped his hand around hers and led the way. He’d use any method of comforting he could to assure her that her secrets were safe with him. After hanging their coats by the door, they went to the small library, which had become their unofficial spot.
He sat in the pink chair, remaining silent and giving Jessa the space she needed.
She sat cross-legged on the chair. Olive green socks peeked between the top of her boots and bottom of her pant legs. For the first minute, she stared at her sleeves, pulling them over her hands and gripping the edge. Finally, she looked up. “I had a perfect childhood. My family loved each other, and we spent all the time we could together. My siblings and I grew up in church, and all accepted Christ by the time we reached high school.” She spun her thumbs in a revolving motion. “My brother Hunter was always picked on, especially as he got older and fewer of his friends stuck to the values they’d been taught.”
He reached for a box of tissues and handed one to her.
“A few years ago, he gave up living a Christian lifestyle and started drinking and partying.” She wiped her eyes and continued. “None of my family knew. He frequented a bar in Farthington, but we didn’t find out until after the fact.”
“After what fact?”
“One night, Hunter made the very bad choice to drive home drunk. He ran off the road and into a tree.” Her breathing came ragged, and she took a moment to compose herself. “He’s lucky to have survived.”
And even more fortunate that he didn’t hurt anyone else in the process.Memories of Jerome surfaced. He’d been the passenger in a car with a drunk driver and had been killed instantly when thatfriendcrossed the center line.
Landon wanted to say something, but the right words wouldn’t come. Everything that popped into his brain sounded judgmental and pious, which wasn’t fair because he’d made his own mistakes, only on a different level. “What happened next?”
“He spent a week in the hospital then went to jail. It was his first offense, but the district attorney’s mom had been killed in a drunk driving accident, so he showed no mercy.”
Having strong opinions on the fate of drunk drivers, he bit his tongue. Jessa needed his support, not condemnation of her brother.
She squeezed her eyes. “I know what he did was wrong, and I know he had to face the consequences, but it hurts to see my baby brother behind bars. At the same time, I’m so angry at him. He put his life and countless others in danger and destroyed our family.”
Wrapping his hand around hers, he stilled her trembling fingers. “I’m sorry.”
“He has two more years to serve, and then he’ll get out. I keep praying he’ll get his life on track, but it won’t be easy.”
“No, but it’s possible. He’ll need his family more than ever.”
Her head tilted to the right, and she looked at him with eyes full of intrigue. “You’re a mystery.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wanted to tell you about Hunter, but then you mentioned your friend was killed by a drunk driver, and you’re so convinced your dad can’t change.” She started to choke on her words, and she cleared her throat. “I thought you’d judge my family, but you're incredibly supportive.”
The words cut to his core. Had he come across so bitter against his dad that she had thought him so cold? He shook his head in slow motion. “Your brother made those choices, not you. How could I hold them against you? And I do believe people can change, but—like I said about my dad—his behavior is habitual, not a youthful error in judgment.”
She gave a closed-mouth smile. “Thank you for understanding.”
