Story of my damn life.
For a moment, nothing happened. I wondered if they’d even heard the bell. Then there were footsteps, the porch light switched on, and the door opened.
A breath got stuck halfway in my throat.
Callum stood there. My little brother. I’d spoken to him over video several times over the last few months, but seeing him in person was completely different. He certainly wasn’t expecting me to show up tonight.
My inhale went stale in my chest as I watched his face change, going from calm to recognition and then surprise. Was that bad surprise? Good surprise?
Hell, the suspense was killing me.
“Grayden?” he finally said.
“Hey.” My voice came out rough. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Hey, Callum. It’s me.”
All these years I’d had to imagine this meeting, and those words were the best I could come up with? Fuck, I was shaking. I would’ve had my hat in my hands too, except I’d left my beanie in the truck.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I added.
A huge grin broke over Callum’s face. “Holy shit. You’re here? I thought you were still in Seattle. I can’t believe it.” He opened his arms. “Get over here and give me a hug, man. This is crazy.”
Oh, thank fuck. He was happy to see me.
I stepped forward, my own arms opening. And then we were embracing tightly, my arms wrapped around my brother. Deep relief flooded through me.
I’d known it was a big risk showing up here this way, but a hug from Callum made it all worth it.
Then a happy scream came from the doorway, and a petite figure streaked across the porch toward me in a blur, jumping into my arms. I caught my sister, laughing as I held on tight.
“Gracie. God, I’m glad to see you.” I buried my face against her hair for just a second, fighting to keep my composure.
Fifteen years.
All those years I’d missed, all the moments I’d thrown away—even if I’d never meant things to turn out the way they had—and somehow she was still willing to hug me like this.
“How did you get here?” Grace asked. “When? Why didn’t you say you were coming?”
“When did you get to town?” Callum asked at the same time.
“Um, it was kind of spur of the moment. Relatively speaking.” I set Grace on her feet. She was taller than I remembered, but still didn’t reach my shoulder. “I wasn’t even sure I’d make it to Silver Ridge in time for the holiday.”
I’d also needed to get out of Seattle on short notice, and calling my siblings had seemed like something I could worry about later. Or maybe I’d just been worried they would tell me not to come.
The last time I’d shown up suddenly in Silver Ridge, not too long after my release from Leavenworth, Callum had told me to get lost and never contact any of them again. But last year, Grace got in touch with me out of the blue. Biggest shock of my life, and one of the best things that ever happened to me. Knowing she still cared.
Then Callum had agreed to talk to me too. Apologized for telling me to stay away.
We’d talked some things through since then, though certainly noteverything. There was so much Grace and Callum didn’tknow, and I wasn’t sure if it would make me look better or worse in their eyes if I confessed the whole story.
But our brother Ashford was the biggestifof all. I had no idea how Ashford would react to seeing me again. He’d refused to even have a phone call with me so far. But I was hoping for the best.
Hope, like stupidity, was infinite.
“This is a surprise.” Grace’s boyfriend Dane stepped outside, holding a coat for her. He draped it around her shoulders, then extended his hand to me.
“I’m just glad to be here. Good to meet you in person.” I shook Dane’s hand, and he put an arm around Grace’s waist.
“Same.”
