We held each other until I composed myself enough to hold it together.
I cleared my throat, pulling back to face the woman who had soothed my deep ache. We hadn’t even met properly, but there was something so open about her. Her warmth and kindness radiated from her like sunbeams.
“I…I’m Palmer,” I said with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that, um, breakdown. I’m not usually like this.”
Raleigh frowned and shook her head. “Don’t apologize. You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.” She patted my cheek. “My name is Raleigh, by the way. It’s lovely to meet you, Palmer.”
I nodded, tears still glistening in my eyes.
Raleigh grinned sweetly. “Why don’t you take some time to relax, and I’ll come check on you soon, okay?”
“That sounds nice,” I said, grateful to my very bones for this woman I had literally just met.
I went back into the bedroom, feeling lighter. Hailey was still fast asleep; I thought about crawling back in and snuggling up beside her, but I decided to take a bath instead.
Careful not to get my bandages wet, I soaked in the tub. The warm water released the tension I’d held for the past several days.
When the bath went cold, I forced myself to get out and get ready for the day. It was still so early. Hailey still hadn’t woken when I left the bathroom, clean and dressed.
An hour after her first visit, Raleigh knocked on our door. This time, she wore a wide smile. “Feeling better?”
I nodded, and her grin widened.
“I wanted to invite you down for breakfast if you’re hungry.”
I tried to return the smile, but was suddenly too nervous. I glanced back at the sleeping girl, frowning.
“I didn’t want to wake her up quite yet.” I turned back to Raleigh. “I’m not sure I should leave her up here all by herself.”
Raleigh gave a dismissive wave. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve already eaten and I’d love to stay with her until she wakes.”
Before I could object, Raleigh walked into the room. She stared at the sleeping Hailey with so much love that my heart constricted. I wasn’t sure anyone had ever looked at me like that.
When I still didn’t move, Raleigh turned to me. “I’ve missed her so much,” she said. “Please, let me snuggle my grandbaby for a bit. Go eat.”
I blinked, unable to argue with that. I gave a nod and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind me.
I didn’t need anyone to tell me where the kitchen was. The house practically led me there.
Voices drifted down the wide hallway, warm and overlapping; the clink of dishes and low laughter echoed off the high ceilings. The place was breathtaking in daylight. Stark white walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows that stretched toward a mountain view so vast it almost didn’t seem real. Dark metal railings lined an open loft area, and below it the kitchen and dining space was laid out in a perfect, polished sweep of marble counters and wood floors.
The kitchen was filled with people I recognized from photos around the Ramsey bed-and-breakfast, but had never officially met.
I paused, wondering whether I really wanted to go down into the fray. The Ramsey family was…a little overwhelming. Plus, it was probably obvious I’d been crying.
I was also very aware that they could see me standing here watching them, and the last thing I wanted was to be caught staring like a creep.
With my skin heating, I steeled myself.I could do this, couldn’t I?
Raleigh had been wonderful; the rest of them couldn’t be that bad.
I carefully went down the wide staircase, my socked feet silent on the steps. The moment I reached the bottom, I stilled, taking in everyone.
My brain stalled.
Reid—the youngest brother—stood near the stove, tall and broad, flipping pancakes in a cast-iron skillet while a woman with curly blonde hair—his wife, Lark, I think—leaned against the counter beside him, smiling at something he’d said.
August sat at the table with Emersyn. I recognized her from her true crime podcast. I’d binged some of her best episodes on the Shadow Stalker in the last few weeks. She was tucked into August’s side, his arm draped across the back of her chair, his other hand resting on her stomach. Something soft flickered in my chest at the small swell of her stomach. Roman hadn’t told me they were expecting.
