By early afternoon, Julia is gone, and we’re standing on Ella’s porch, watching as Jake’s truck pulls into the driveway. Scout barks excitedly, recognizing his vehicle.
“Here we go,” I mutter, feeling strangely nervous about facing my brother with everything we’ve discovered.
Lana’s hand brushes mine, a brief touch of reassurance. “It’ll be fine,” she says quietly.
Jake emerges from the driver’s side, and Ella from the passenger side, looking tired but happy. Nora practically bounces out of the back seat, her face lit with joy.
“Welcome back,” I call, raising a hand in greeting.
Jake’s smile widens when he sees us. “Hey, little brother! Lana! Looks like you two survived the storm.”
If he only knew.
“We have a lot to catch you up on,” I say, exchanging a glance with Lana.
Jake’s eyebrows rise as he removes a suitcase from the back seat. “That sounds ominous.”
“It’s been an interesting few days,” Lana replies diplomatically, opening the door for them to file in. “But that is a conversation for tomorrow. So, did Kori and Kane fly back with you?”
Ella nodded. “They did as well as Mia and Connor. They’re all at the lodge now.”
I realize in that moment that I’ve had enough socializing for one day. My leg is throbbing, and the events of the past few days—not to mention last night with Lana—have left me physically and emotionally drained.
“That’s great,” I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. “I’m sure you’re all exhausted from the trip.”
Lana steps forward, her voice casual but her eyes avoiding mine. “I should probably head over to the lodge, check on Kori and the others. Make sure they’re settling in okay.”
“You don’t have to go right away,” Ella protests, but I can see Lana’s mind is made up.
“I’ve been away longer than planned and need to talk to Kori,” she says with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Plus, I need to grab some fresh clothes.”
I find myself both relieved and disappointed by her imminent departure. “I think I’ll head over to Jake’s place,” I announce. “Make sure everything’s secure after the storm.”
Jake gives me a curious look. “We just got here, Caleb. The animals can wait an hour.”
“Better to check now,” I insist. “There was a lot of snow. Want to make sure the barn roof held up.”
Lana is already gathering her things, moving with the efficiency of someone who’s used to quick exits. “I’ll call you later about that... situation we discussed,” she says vaguely.
“Right,” I nod. “The situation.”
Jake’s eyes narrow, darting between us. “What situation?”
“Tomorrow, Jake,” I say firmly. “Let’s get you all settled first.”
Fifteen minutes later, I’m watching Lana’s taillights disappear down the driveway. She didn’t look back, not even once. I tell myself it’s better this way, cleaner. Whatever happened last night was just comfort between two people in a stressful situation. Nothing more.
I limp toward my truck, ignoring the knowing look Ella gave me as I left. Women always seem to see right through me.
The drive to Jake’s is mercifully short. My leg is screaming by the time I park, and I have to sit for a minute, breathing through the pain before I can climb out. Scout would normally be with me, but he chose to stay with Nora, the two of them inseparable after their reunion.
Inside the barn, everything is just as we left it. The animals greet me with their usual chorus of sounds, though they’ve already been fed. I’m not really here to check on them—I just needed space to think.
I find myself drawn to the spot where Lana found the box, running my fingers over the rough wooden floor planks where it was hidden—Thomas Wolf’s legacy. A secret kept for generations, now threatening to upend everything.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I expect it to be Jake, demanding to know what’s going on, but instead, it’s a text from Lana.
“Made it to the lodge. Everyone’s fine. About last night... thank you.”
