Maybe Ashford was right. Maybe I’d broken us too badly to ever put the pieces back together.
I sat there in the cold truck, watching snowflakes gather on the windshield. Then I started the engine and drove away.
FOUR
Piper
Grayden washere.In Silver Ridge. Right outside.
I couldn’t figure out how to feel.
The moment we heard Callum say his brother’s name out on the porch, Grace was the next to jump up and run for the door. She squealed with joy and leaped into his arms.
I followed but didn’t go outside, glancing through the front window at them instead. I caught a glimpse of the tall man hugging Grace.
A tall, rugged, rough-around-the-edges man who was even more handsome than when we were younger.
I remembered him with a buzz cut and a clean-shaven face. But now, Grayden’s brown hair had grown to almost his chin, all tousled and messy with a slight wave to it. His beard was in need of a trim, and he had far more lines around his eyes and mouth than before.
A tattoo of black roses peeked up the side of his neck.
But all that toughness was softened by his wide grin as he talked to his sister.
I startled when Ollie tugged the edge of my sweater. “Mom, who is he?” Ollie must have noticed the tension, because he waswhispering. “Maisie asked who Grayden is, but her dad didn’t answer.”
“You don’t need to worry about that right now.”
“But—”
I walked Ollie back to the dining room. Behind me, I heard Grace and Callum talking loudly outside. Dane brushed past me, and it sounded like he’d shut the door, dampening the sounds of their voices.
But in here, it was like time had stopped. Ashford was just staring into space with a look of sheer horror on his face. Like he was watching a train wreck that was on fire and about to get eaten by Godzilla.
Emma stood up, grabbing Maisie’s hand. “Hey, Maisie-doodle. I just realized we haven’t called my dad and stepmom to say Happy Thanksgiving. Come help me.”
“But Emma, I’m still eating. And Daddy’s?—”
“Your daddy needs a minute.” She didn’t let Maisie argue, just ushering her down a hall toward one of the guest rooms.
Ashford hadn’t broken free of his catatonic state yet, but storm clouds were gathering behind his eyes.
I turned to Ollie, who looked like he was ready to rush outside and find out for himself what all this fuss was about.
“Ollie, go play with Maisie for a while.”
“No way! I want to see what’s going on. What is all this?” He tried to push past me, but I held on to his shoulders.
“This is a grown-up moment. Just listen to me for now, and I’ll explain later.”
“Grown-up moments suck balls.”
“Excuseme? Oliver Carmichael, get your butt out of this room and go with Emma and Maisie. Right now.” I jabbed a finger toward the hallway.
Ollie stomped off. When he was gone, I turned and saw amusement dancing in Zandra’s dark eyes. “Grown-up stuff does suck balls sometimes,” she murmured. “That’s objectively true.”
I snorted a laugh, covering my mouth.
But once Zandra and I got outside, I wasn’t laughing. Especially after Ashford finally made his entrance. Said what he said.
