They walk through the house to go out the back door, and I help the others finish bringing everything in. My house looks like a bomb went off in it, but I told them to bring as much as they could. I wanted to make sure they had everything they needed.
Skyler is bringing things to the kitchen. “I’m stocking your fridge.”
I pull her in for a hug. “Thanks, sis. But you know I can buy food.”
She laughs. “Bite your tongue. You know whatever I make is better than what you can order.”
I nod in agreement. “Right. I know you’re right.”
I help her bring things in from her car, and we’re just getting done when Lindsey walks down the staircase, her eyes wild. She comes to me, her hand going to my chest. “Where’s Eli?”
I hold her hand to me and lead her to the windows that face the backyard. “He’s playing catch with my brother.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Is that?—”
I nod. “Yep. Guy Brody.”
She watches through the window as Eli smiles ear to ear. Lindsey stutters, “Thank you. I was beginning to think I’d never see him smile again.”
“He’s going to be okay. You both are.”
I soothe my hand down her back. “I’m so sorry about your sister,Lindsey.”
She nods, and we both turn when my sister clears her throat. “Hey, Lindsey. I’m Skyler. Miller’s sister.”
Skyler points at our sister-in-law Aria. “This is Aria. She is Penn’s wife. Penn is in surgery or else he’d be here.” She points at Zach and Logan. “This is Zach and Logan. Zach is my husband. Logan is my brother, and they own Stronghold Security.” She points to the kitchen. “That’s Bree. She’s Logan’s wife.” Then she points at Ozzy. “And that over there is our brother Ozzy, the rancher.”
Lindsey lifts her hand. “Hello, everyone.”
Skyler walks up to Lindsey and wraps her in a hug. “First of all, I’m so sorry for your loss. If you need anything, and I mean anything, let me or any of us know.”
When Skyler lets her go, Lindsey leans into my side. I take that as a good sign that she’s looking at me for some comfort. “Okay, well, thank you all for everything.”
Ozzy steps toward us. “He’s about to kick us out.” He looks at Lindsey. “Point me in the direction where you want all this stuff, and we’ll put it away and then get going.”
Lindsey must have missed it all before because it’s like she’s noticing all the boxes for the first time. “Oh my God, is that all mine?”
I tense, hoping she’s not going to be mad. “I wanted to make sure that you and Eli had everything you needed, so I sent Mike and all of them to your house to get your things. I hope that’s okay.”
She opens her mouth and then closes it, clearly overwhelmed.
I look at Ozzy and then back to Lindsey. “Is it okay if they put everything in the room you and Eli were sleeping in? We can sort it out later.”
She seems to snap out of it. “Yes. I’ll help.”
But Skyler is not having it. “Why don’t you let me show you everything we put in the kitchen while they do that.”
Reluctantly, Lindsey walks away with her, and when she gives me a glance over her shoulder, I can’t help but think that everything is going to be okay. It has to be.
CHAPTER 11
LINDSEY
Aria, Skyler, and Bree all join me in the kitchen. They ply me with tea, cookies, and hugs.
“Give me your phone,” Skyler demands.
I already know there’s no point arguing. I pull my phone from my pocket and hand it over.
