She texted Sten that she was ready to go whenever he could come pick her up. He answered immediately.
Ten minutes?
Perfect. I’ll be waiting on the front porch.
She stuck her phone back in her pocket and was about to go back in and tell everyone goodbye when the door opened and Aislinn came out. “Everything okay out here?”
Oddly, although Aislinn was the only Bravo in town to which she had no blood relationship, Madison felt a certain bond with the woman who should have grown up calling Lloyd and Paula Delaney her dad and mom.
“Join me.” Madison patted the chair beside her.
Aislinn came and sat down. “You look a little shell-shocked.”
Madison gave a sheepish laugh. “I think my head is literally spinning.” She admitted, “It’s a lot to take in, that’s all.”
“Tell me about it. After I got the news, I spent months wandering around in a daze, trying to figure out who the hell I really am. I read up on you—but not in a stalkerish way, I promise.” And they laughed together at the sheer unreality of the situation. Then Aislinn grew serious again. “I just, well, I felt as though I’d stolen your life from you.”
“What? Aislinn, you were a newborn baby, completely innocent. No way you’re to blame for what Martin Durand did.”
Aislinn tapped her temple. “I know that in here.” She put her palm against her chest. “In my heart, though, I just had to work through it, you know?”
“Yeah. I do. I truly do.”
“But, Madison, I read that your parents adored you and I hope that it’s true.”
“They did, yes. They loved me. I never doubted their love. And I lovedthem. I still miss them every day.” She had to ask, “How about George and Marie Bravo?”
“I was their little princess,” said Aislinn with a far-away smile. “And a very happy little girl. I felt safe and cared for and...precious, you know?”
“I do. And I’m glad.”
“And I wonder, would you want to come out to Wild River for dinner?” Aislinn fiddled with the filigree heart she wore on a silver chain around her neck. “Say, Saturday? You can see the ranch where you were born.”
It surprised Madison how much she wanted that. “Yes, definitely. What time?”
“Five? I’ll show you around the place before we eat. Bring a friend if you’d like.”
“I’ll be there,” Madison promised just as Sten’s pickup pulled in at the curb. He gave her a wave from inside the cab, leaning forward enough that the streetlamp above cast his face into sharp relief for a moment. She waved back, her heart suddenly lighter, somehow. “And here’s my ride...”
“Isn’t that Sten Larson?”
“The one and only. I guess I’m not surprised you know him. Sten mentioned that he was in the same grade in school as Matt.”
“Yeah. And Liam and Karin are the same age.” Liam was fourth-born, after Daniel, Matt and Connor.
“I’m staying at a cottage Sten owns out at Sweetheart Cove. He’s been terrific, playing chauffeur when I need a ride, taking me razor clamming. Karin even had me over to dinner. I really like the family.”
“I know the cove. It’s a beautiful spot.”
“I love it. It’s pretty isolated, which works for me because I’ve been trying to keep a low profile so that word won’t get out I’m in town. If the tabloids get hold of the news that I’m here, well, some of those reporters can get pretty rabid.”
“I won’t tell a soul. And I’ll warn the rest of the family to keep quiet about your being here.”
“Thanks.” Madison rose. “I’m just going to run down and tell Sten I need to go in and say good-night to everyone.”
Aislinn got up before suggesting, “Or I could say goodbye to them for you?”
Madison hesitated. She really was anxious to get away, get a chance to decompress. But not to at least thank Keely and Daniel for the evening seemed rude.
