Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sunday, October 9, 2022
Brantley stood on his uncle’s front porch, beer in hand, watching as a dozen or so kids chased each other through the front yard.
When Travis had called him and insisted that he come to Sunday dinner at Curtis and Lorrie’s, he hadn’t been able to refuse.Then again, half the town hadn’t refused either because they were there, celebrating Kylie’s homecoming.
Granted, it wasn’t all rainbows and roses.It was obvious that Kylie was doing her best to acclimate.It had to be difficult after being gone for so long, held captive, not knowing what the next day would bring.And the same went for the family who had mourned her death and spent nearly two years trying to make peace with it.
He’d watched the kids, wondering how they were adapting.Kate seemed to be dealing with it better than the rest, but she wasn’t leaving her mother’s side.Kade and Avery appeared hesitant, but hopeful, maybe?The same didn’t appear to be the case for Haden and Maddox, who had been two and one, respectively, when their mother disappeared from their lives.They were far more interested in laughing and playing with their cousins.
It would take time, but the family dynamic was strong.Brantley knew they could overcome just about anything.
He continued to check on Kylie, watching her from a distance.There were moments when she looked lost, almost sad.Others, when he could practically feel the relief coming from her.He hoped to learn what happened to her, but that was a story for another day.
A hard hand smacked him on the shoulder.“How’s married life treatin’ ya?”
Turning, Brantley grinned at his cousin Kaleb.“Can’t complain.You?”
Kaleb’s gaze sought out his wife, who was sitting in a lawn chair beside Kylie.“Marryin’ that girl was the best thing I ever did.She gave me all those heathens.”He nodded in the direction of the kids chasing each other around the Halloween decorations that were being put up.
“And you’ve got your hands full, huh?”
“More than.But it’s worth it.”Kaleb’s expression turned serious.“I wanted to thank you.”
“For?”
“For bringin’ her home.Travis told us what you did.How you were determined to find out the truth.”
“That’s what we do for family, right?”
“You made this family whole again.”
“I didn’t do it alone.My team deserves the credit for this one.”
“Yeah, well.They’ve got damn good leaders.Speakin’ of… Where’s your better half?”
“He got wrangled into helpin’ with the decorations.”Brantley turned to look out at the yard once again.“Who’s responsible for all those damn skeletons?”
“That’d be Ethan’s doing.He thought it would be funny to create a zombie army usin’ skeletons.Every year, he adds to the collection.”
There had to be at least thirty of them, some full-size, others miniature.Most of them had been modified so they were funny rather than scary.At the moment, Ethan was tying one—wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey—to a post on the house, arranging it so that it looked like it was climbing.
The front door opened behind him.A second later, boots thudded on the wooden porch.A firm hand gripped his shoulder, causing him to look over.
“That’s my cue to check on my wife,” Kaleb said.“Talk to you later.”
Brantley nodded before turning his attention to Travis.
“Thanks for comin’,” the man said, stepping up to the railing beside him.
“Thanks for invitin’ us.My parents still inside talkin’ to your mom?”
“Oh, yeah.Iris and my mother are plannin’ the next family reunion.”
Brantley frowned.“Didn’t we just have one of those?”
“Six years ago.”
