“Yes, of course. I just don’t understand what the fuck Katie would want?”
I tell them everything, the divorce, the death of our son, her mental history. And when I’m done, they’re staring at me. I didn’t notice Shelby coming in. She wipes her eyes and walks out of the kitchen.
“If anything happens to that boy!” Grady is in my face.
“I care for him too, asshole. I won’t let that happen.”
“Maybe you’ve done enough, sit this one out and let Grant and his team handle it.”
My phone rings and I answer when I see it’s my mom. “Hey, Mom, any news on the car?”
“Yeah, it’s at the waterfall, son.”
“The waterfall? What the hell would she be doing there?”
All eyes are on me. “I got to go, Mom, thank you.”
“She’s at the waterfall,” I tell the men in the kitchen.
My phone rings again, and I hold up a finger to silence them. The screen displays an unknown number.
I answer but put it on speaker.
“Ember.”
“Hi, Katie. Where are you? I came looking for you at the house earlier. My mom told me you were coming into town to see me.” I try to keep my voice calm and even. Shelby’s red-rimmed eyes make my insides twist. I don’t know who brought her in here, but they shouldn’t have.
Katie sniffs. “Why’d you try and replace Bailey?” Her voice shakes.
“I could never do that, Kat. He’s our son. Nobody can replace him.”
“Then why are you spending so much time with the boy in town.”
“What do you mean, Kat?” I look at Shelby first, then my eyes shift around the room, pleading with them all silently to remain calm and let me handle this.
“Brody.” One word has Shelby covering her mouth with her fist. Grady holds her close to his chest. I bow my head.
“Brody is my friend’s son.” I try to hide the shake in my own voice.
“You built him a treehouse? And you play ball with him?” Katie laughs, but it’s that strange sound she makes when she is lost in thought. “That’s really sweet.”
“Where are you, Kat? I can come over and talk to you all about that.”
“You don’t love his mother?” Katie asks.
I close my eyes. “No, Kat. I only loveyou.”
“I was so angry, Emb, I wanted the same thing that happened to me to happen to her.”
Grant stands, and I raise my hands to him.
“You couldn’t do it, though, right?” I ask calmly.
“No, I thought if you were here, we could be a family. Maybe, you can meet us at the waterfall, then we can go away somewhere, the three of us.” Katie sounds so hopeful my heart breaks for her. She’s a broken woman, shattered in ways that not many understand. I do, I understand.
“I’ll be right there, Kitty Kat.” I hope that using her old nickname will somehow reach her, make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.
When I end the call, it sounds like everyone is talking at once.
