“Where’re you going?” She rose, too, and put her hands on her hips. “I told Meghan you’d be around.”
“I’m going for a walk. I just want to get out and breathe a little. I’m used to being by myself all the time, and y’all have been up my ass for almost a week. I need a break.”
“Hey, do you know that’s the second time in the last few minutes you’ve saidy’all?” She grinned and poked me in the ribs. “Look at that! There’s still some country left in my citified brother.”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” I rolled my eyes. “Just because I don’t go around chewing and spitting in overalls and a ball cap doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten my roots.” I tapped her nose. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Fine, go off and leave me.” She folded her arms over her chest, pouting in true-Reenie fashion.
“Hey, she’s your friend. And Mom’s here.” I tromped down the stairs, Maureen trailing after me. I paused at the bottom and yelled toward the back of the house. “Ma, I’m going for a walk. That okay?”
Her voice floated out of the laundry room. “Sure, honey. I’m running out to the grocery store. I’ll be back in a little while. You be careful.”
My sister giggled. “You know, she tells me to be careful every time I leave the house, even if I’m just going to work. I think she’s afraid if she doesn’t one of us’ll forget and do something wild.”
I smiled. “See, that’s one of those things you don’t appreciate, but I do. No one tells me to be careful unless I’m on the phone with Mom. It makes me feel good.” I waited for her to tease me for being a mama’s boy, but she only hugged herself and nodded.
“I get that. I mean, I joke about it, but especially right now . . . believe me, I’m big on appreciating everything and not taking anything for granted.” She reached up to hug my neck, quick and hard. “And Flynn, don’t ever think we don’t miss you. Or that we don’t need you. We’re strong, Ma and Iona and me, and we’ll make it. But we still love you and miss you and need you, all the time. When you’re gone, it always feels like something’s missing. I’m glad you’re here, now.”
I coughed, covering up the lump in my throat. “Yeah, thanks. But I’m still not staying here while Meghan visits.”
She shoved against me. “Jerk.”
“But you love me anyway.” I swung the door open and turned to go outside, but I stopped abruptly, my heart suddenly pounding and blood rushing in my ears.
Ali Reynolds stared up at me, face pinched and pale. She licked her lips and spoke.
“Hello, Flynn. Could I come in? We need to talk.”
I didn’t remember moving from the door to the living room, but we were there. I sat on the sofa, hands clenched at my sides. Meghan perched on the edge of the armchair in the corner, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. Her eyes never left Ali, who was across the room on the loveseat. I didn’t want to look at her, but at the same time, my eyes kept straying in her direction.
Nine years. I couldn’t believe it had been nearly that long since I’d laid eyes on the girl I’d promised to love forever. Part of me wanted to pretend no time at all had come between us; I wanted to hold her tight, kiss those full lips until her eyes went soft and hazy. Talk to her for hours about everything I’d seen and done while we’d been apart.
But another part of me was still wounded, and even glancing her way hurt so damned much that I wanted to hit something. I wanted to yell at her the same way I had the last day we’d fought. I wanted to shake her until her eyes rolled back, ask her how the hell she could’ve married Craig. I wanted to know why she hadn’t trusted me and why she hadn’t chosen me.
Next to me on the sofa, Maureen cleared her throat. “Meghan, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be rude to you, and I’m sure you mean well, but this . . . this isn’t cool. You’re not from here, and you don’t know the history. The last thing my brother needs right now is this kind of drama.” She looked at the other two girls. “In case you forgot, we just buried our father yesterday.”
I didn’t know Meghan at all, but I couldn’t miss the misery on her face. “I know, Maureen, and believe me, I’m so sorry. If this could’ve waited, we wouldn’t be here. But we weren’t sure how much longer Flynn would be in town, and we couldn’t put it off anymore.” She turned back to the other side of the room. “Right, Ali?”
Ali lifted her hand and tucked a strand of her light brown hair behind her ear. I knew that gesture so well. She ducked her head down, and I saw her lips were curled tightly over her teeth. She stared at a spot in the middle of room, not looking at me. She hadn’t acknowledged me at all since I’d stood back to let her in the house.
But now she lifted her face, slowly, to gaze at my sister. “Maureen, I’m really sorry, but could you please give Flynn and me a little privacy?”
Reenie began to protest. “Ali, seriously? Come on. We’re not in high school anymore. If you have something to say to my brother—”
“Maureen, please.” Meghan rose from her chair, her eyes pleading with my sister. “Let’s just give them a minute.”
“I’m okay, Reen.” I tried for a half-smile. “You can go. We won’t be long.”
Still, she hesitated a minute before sighing and turning to leave. I couldn’t see the look she shot Ali as she passed her chair, but judging by the way the younger woman cringed, it must’ve been a doozy.
I heard Meghan suggest that they sit out on the back porch, and within a few minutes, their voices had faded. I leaned back on the sofa, my arms along the back of the cushions as I leveled a steady gaze at Ali. “Okay. So we’re alone. What’s up? What’s so important that you had to lie to my sister to get in the house? What do you have to say that you couldn’t in the past nine years?”
A little bit of mad sparked in her eyes. “Oh, yeah, it wassoeasy to get in touch with you. You know, I can’t remember why I haven’t seen you in nine years. Wait a minute, yes, I do. Because youleft.You leftme.”
I tamped down the flare of hurt and guilt. “No, I left Burton. I didn’t leave you. At least, I didn’t want to. I wanted you with me, remember? I wanted what our plan always was. You’re the one who threw it away. Let’s not re-write history, sweetheart.” I spit out the last word, leaving no doubt that it wasn’t an endearment.
“I didn’t—” Ali began, and then she stopped, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I could see the rise and fall of her chest under the long-sleeved cotton shirt she wore, and damn my soul, I still wanted her.
