My glare doesn’t stop him from continuing.
“‘You haven’t lost your chance so don’t fuck it up,’ that’s what you told me. There are no words for what you went through with Isla. I know it’ll always haunt you, but she’s gone. Take your time and get your head together.” He leans forward and looks me in the eye. “But you haven’t lost your chance so don’t fuck it up.”
CHAPTER 25
SILVER
Spendingthe week with my brothers was a rollercoaster full of highs and lows, and it was exactly what I needed. Sean and Simon own a construction business together. They live in a duplex, with Sean on one side, and Simon on the other, along with his wife, Cheyenne. Cheyenne and Simon announced that she was pregnant on my first night with them, which brought a lot of celebration, along with sadness because Mom won’t see her first grandchild.
My brothers were determined not to let the holiday be a sad one. Every day they had us attending some kind of event, a holiday parade, a Christmas display at an art museum, live music at multiple bars. We even spent an evening driving around to see the Christmas lights like Mom used to take us to do every year when we were kids.
They kept me too busy to dwell much on the past weeks, or to wallow in my heartbreak, but as soon as Icrawled into bed at night, Lee was all I could think about. My tears for him and for Mom mixed on the pillow.
I make the trip back feeling better than I did during the drive there, and Calli answers her door with a wide smile. Goblin rushes over as soon as she sees me. A small orange kitten pounces on her, but she swats it out of the way like a mosquito, making Calli laugh.
“Stop it, you bully,” Arlow teases, picking up the kitten while I scoop up Goblin.
“Goblin has actually been extremely patient with her,” Calli says. “She’s a menace.”
“Well, you chose an orange one. What do you expect?” I laugh as Goblin rubs her head on my chin.
“Excuse me, there will be no ginger slander in Kay’s presence,” Arlow says, while the kitten claws her way up to his neck.
“You named her Kay?”
“Short for Chaos,” Calli replies.
“Short for Empress of Chaos,” Arlow corrects, snuggling the kitten under his neck. “Show some respect.” Calli rolls her eyes but the look she gives Arlow is filled with love. These two make me sick.
“I know you probably want to get settled in the cabin, but will you stay for dinner?” Calli asks. “I’ve got a lasagna coming out of the oven in ten minutes.”
“I’d love to. I’m starving.”
Their kitchen is warm, full of laughter and light as we eat. We talk about our plans for the upcoming year, and I realizethere are things I’m looking forward to, despite the sadness that keeps trying to pull me down.
“After I get the house situation dealt with, I’m going to reassess my financial state and decide whether I want to take on more employees to keep the coffee shop open later.”
“It’s a good idea,” Arlow says, munching on garlic bread. “I drink more coffee in the evening than the morning.”
“I knew it would appeal to you two nocturnal ghouls.”
They grin at each other. “A nice nitro cold brew before our midnight walk in the graveyard would be just the thing, wouldn’t it, honey?” Arlow asks.
Calli taps her finger on her chin. “Mm, I think I’d prefer a latte.”
After dinner, I head over to the cabin with Goblin and unload my car. I don’t have much since the fire, so it doesn’t take long. Maybe things will be all right now. I’ll rest for a few days until after New Year’s when everyone will get back to work, and I can start working through my to-do list.
A couple of days after I move in, Calli texts that she’s coming over. I’ve barely opened the cabin door when she grabs me in a fierce hug and lets out a sob. Cold terror shoots down my spine. “What happened?” I’m not sure I can take another emergency or tragedy already.
“Nothing,” she chokes out. “I’m sorry. Arlow just told me everything you’ve been through.”
My stomach sinks and I hesitate to reply. I assumed Lee wouldn’t want it known considering he murdered the guy, and I don’t want to reveal anything that he didn’t. What exactly did he tell her?
She hugs me again. “Christ, he tried to drown you! I hope he killed the bastard slow.”
Okay, he told her everything. “I’m okay now.”
“And to think I was worried over the Matheson situation.”
