AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chase stirred. “BB—maybe this isn’t the time.”
“No.” Billy held up his hand. He was just glad his granddaughter Maria wasn’t present to hear her father BB’s speech because she wouldn’t appreciate them arguing. “Let him speak.”
BB sighed. “Look, all I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to do that. It doesn’t matter what you say, we all know this is your place—that you coming back to Morgan Ranch returned its soul. Tell us we’re crap. Tell us where we’re going wrong. We accepted you back a long time ago. We want you here.”
Billy looked around the table where everyone was nodding along with BB’s words. He gripped the table hard to remind himself that he wasn’t dreaming as his son’s blunt words sunk in.
“It’s still your ranch, Dad,” BB said quietly. “You’re the one who taught us how to love it when we were kids, just like you did. You’re the reason we all came home.”
Billy managed a nod and then turned on his heel and escaped the kitchen before he did something stupid like bawl his eyes out. How had his children managed to grow up so smart despite their parents’ bad choices? He got into his truck and drove to town. The need to sit quietly in his AA meeting and process what had just happened consumed him. Perhaps listening to how others had overcome their demons, and still struggled, would reset and restore him.
* * *
Bella glanced at the clock as someone knocked on the back door and then checked her cell. There was a text from Billy suggesting he meet with her after she’d finished her shift. It was getting close to that time now. She usually stopped taking orders an hour before the bar closed, and it was almost ten now.
Sonali closed the refrigerator and came over. “I’m done—unless you can think of anything else that needs attending to?”
Bella smiled as she went to open the back door. “No, you’ve been great. I can’t believe you agreed to work for me.”
“It’s fun! I love learning new things,” Sonali said as she took off her apron. “I don’t think I’ll stay here forever, but I’d rather be cooking than sitting around the apartment feeling sorry for myself with Dev moaning about me not paying rent.”
Bella checked it was indeed Billy outside, and opened the door.
“Come on in. I’m just finishing up.” She stepped aside as Sonali came back with her hat and coat. “Have you met Sonali, Billy?”
“Yes, we met at the ranch during her interview with Gustav.” Billy shook Sonali’s hand. “How are you doing? Is Bella treating you okay?”
Sonali grinned. “She’s awesome and I’m having a great time.” She glanced back at Bella. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Are you good walking home, Sonali?” Billy asked.
“Thanks, Mr. Morgan, but it’s literally across the street. Dev’s probably already standing at the window twitching the drapes to make sure I cross the road properly.” Sonali winked. “He takes his big brother duties very seriously.”
She crammed her woolen hat on her head, put on her coat, and set off whistling, her hands in her pockets.
Suddenly all too aware that she was now alone with Billy Morgan, Bella went into the kitchen. There was very little left to do, but completing the regular tasks helped her calm down and get used to being around Billy again.
Without asking, he helped out, putting things away and cleaning surfaces. The bar was still packed, and the noise drifted through the kitchen as they completed their tasks.
“I’ll just go and tell Jay I’m done and I’ll be right with you,” Bella said.
“Not a problem.”
For some reason Billy looked more solemn than usual, his warm smile absent. Was he expecting her to deliver bad news, or was something else going on?
After saying good night to Jay, she returned to the kitchen and led the way upstairs to her apartment, where she’d left a single light burning in the window. Billy came in behind her and shut the door.
“What a great view of Main Street and the Christmas lights.” He went into the kitchen and stared out over the street.
“It’s great until the drunks get out,” Bella said.
