“Unfamiliar roads and traffic.”
She nodded and caught sight of a white Toyota Sienna driving slowly toward where she stood with Blake. Her pulse moved up into her neck, and she couldn’t breathe. It had to be him. The vehicle rolled to a stop and a tall, broad-shouldered man got out. Their gazes locked, and she saw the certainty in his eyes.
“D-Drew.” She choked out the name.My brother.
“Paradise.” His gaze never wavered as he came toward her.
He wore dark wash jeans that fit his muscular thighs well and a navy tee that showed off the biceps he’d likely hit the gym to maintain. Was he married? While she could have checked out his left hand, she couldn’t look away from his awe-filled face. She couldn’t wait to find out if she had a sister by marriage too. And maybe a niece or a nephew. The thought of an extended family hadn’t crossed her mind—it had been enough to have a brother.
She didn’t realize she’d stepped forward until they were a foot away from each other. Though she’d told herself she would be reserved and circumspect, she went into his arms without thinking. He hugged her back, a welcoming embrace that didn’t want to let go.
Her eyes were wet when she stepped back. “We look alike, Drew.”
“I noticed—I’m a detective, after all.” His amber eyes twinkled with good humor and his gaze roamed over her face. “You still look like the last picture I got of you.” He dug in the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a faded snapshot of her when she wasabout eight. Mom was French braiding her hair, and they were both laughing.
Pain and longing stole Paradise’s breath. “She’d just hit me with the brush for squirming and told me I couldn’t go to school looking like a ragamuffin. I didn’t know what the word meant, so she started reciting the poem ‘The Raggedy Man,’ and it made me giggle every time she said, ‘Raggedy! Raggedy! Raggedy Man!’ I have no idea why. Mom loved poetry and would quote it every chance she got.”
“I wish I’d known her,” he said softly. He held out his hand to Blake. “Detective Drew Bartley.”
“Blake Lawson.”
“Blake is m-my fiancé.” She stumbled over the word because he hadn’t formally asked her to marry him yet, though they talked about the future often. She covered her left hand with her right and wished she hadn’t said the word.
Blake must have sensed her discomfort because he slipped his arm around her waist. “We’re glad you’re here, Drew. Paradise has been overjoyed at the thought she has a brother.”
Drew smiled and nodded toward the yellow cottage with its white trim and red door. “What a pretty cottage. Is it yours?”
“My mom lives here with my little brothers. We can sit on the porch and chat.” Blake took Paradise’s hand, and they walked to the house with Drew on her other side.
There was so much to discuss, but she couldn’t articulate the words in her heart. She ached to hear of his life, of his family, to be part of all that she’d missed through the years. Maybe it was abnormal to feel such an immediate bond with a stranger, but somehow sheknewhim. Their souls had an instant recognition—that sounded insane but was authentic.
They went up the two steps to the porch and she settled ontothe glider beside Blake. Drew stood with one sneaker resting on the bottom rung of the porch rail. “I think I’ll stand for a few minutes. I’ve had to sit for several hours and I’m not used to it. I missed my gym workout this morning.”
“I have so many questions,” Paradise began.
Drew’s smile faltered, and he gazed around the park. “I do, too, but how about we save it for over lunch? I have an urgent matter to talk about.”
She sensed how important this was to him. “We have time.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “I’ve been trying to find out who murdered my dad.”
She gasped. “Your father was murdered, too, just like Mom and Dad?”
“He died just before they did. I think the murders might be connected.”
“Who—who was he?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you did.”
She studied his expression. “All I was able to gather about your dad was he was older than Mom and she got pregnant with you when she was still in high school. He drove in from out of town in a fancy car, so everyone assumed he had money. But if you don’t know who he is, how do you know he was murdered?”
“My parents told me, but they wouldn’t give me his name. I know the month he died, but that’s all. My dad let that slip accidentally.”
“It was suspected he was married and was sneaking around on his wife with Mom,” Paradise said.
“That’s what my parents said too. I find it way too suspicious they all died within a short time of each other.”
“Do you know how your father died?” Blake asked.
