“No. He’ll be alright.”
I glance around the room. It’s not the same without him here.
Elijah flips a chair around, joining us on the patio. “Who wants the tea?”
Dirk shakes his head. “How the hell does my daughter put up with you?”
“Well, I’ll tell you, but I don’t know how to say it without making you want to throw up in your mouth.”
“Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
Elijah makes a little mark on an invisible chalkboard.
It all makes me sigh. My mind goes back to worrying about Raffe. He’s lonely, even though he’s surrounded by people.
Elijah rubs his hands together, excited to tell us his gossip. “Someone, not saying who, overheard Lexie on the phone telling Maggie she has a letter for her from Rachel.”
This gets my attention. “It’s been years since Rachel passed. Why did Lexie wait so long?”
Elijah leans back in his chair. “Well, I’m thinking it’s because Grandma Maggie is getting hitched.”
Everyone sits up straight in their chairs.
Brody whistles. “I don’t know where you get your information, but that’s a mighty big assumption.”
“Well, it’s true. I talked to Jackson myself. Ray and Maggie announced their engagement at supper tonight.”
My mind goes back to Raffe. He didn’t say anything about any of this. “Does Raffe know about the letter?”
Elijah shrugs. “That I don’t know.”
“I got a letter too,” Brody admits quietly.
Everyone turns to look at him, but I turn toward Dirk. He’s never received a letter from his sister, and although he’ll never admit it, I know it hurts him. My husband looks tough. He acts even tougher, but the man does have a heart. I see it every day.
His gaze meets mine, and an entire conversation passes between the two of us.
When he stands and leaves the room, I follow. He heads upstairs, and as soon as we’re in our bedroom, he pours us a drink. We sit across from each other in the window seat, staring down at the lake.
“I’ve been thinking maybe it’s time for us to move back into your grandparent’s house,” he says after several minutes.
I glance around our dark room and then back at the lake. He reaches out and takes my hand, drawing imaginary hearts over my palm.
“Who will take care of this place?” I whisper, watching his inked finger trail over my skin.
“The club.” His gaze meets mine.
We’ve been living here ever since I found out I was pregnant with Billie Rose. It was supposed to be temporary, but I just couldn’t leave my dad. Dirk was understanding and even happy about it. My husband has always put his heart and soul into this club. I guess I just assumed we would always be here.
“This isn’t about Raffe, is it?”
He lifts his hand to the side of my face, and he cradles it. “No. If Raffe needs us, he’s more than welcome in our home, wherever that is. No matter where we go, we’ll always have an open door to him.”
I hold his hand against my cheek. “Why now?”
His mood-ring eyes stare deep into mine. “I want to know more about you.”
I pull my head back in surprise. “You know everything about me.”
