Tucker's attention shifted back to Shane. “Anyway, Peter had a secret bank account he'd used to pay child support. The deposits were always made in cash. When he died, they stopped.”
The pieces seemed to fall into place behind Shane's eyes, and Shylo's stomach dropped.
Tucker fixed his gaze on her.
“That's why you're here, isn't it?” His voice remained low, every word edged with suspicion. “For part of Shane's inheritance.”
The accusation hung between them.
She lowered her eyes to the table while twisting the tissues between trembling fingers. She wanted to answer. Wanted to tell them everything—from the monthly checks she'd grown up believing came from a distant relative to the day her mother finally admitted they had been child support, to Troy showing up at her motel room demanding she claim what he insisted was hers.
Instead, all she could hear was Seth's truck roaring down the driveway toward the road.
She swallowed against the lump in her throat.
Nothing came out.
“Well?” Tucker pressed. “Answer me.”
“Hold on.” Shane's quiet interruption stopped him.
The chair legs rumbled softly across the hardwood as Shane stood. He rested both hands on the table for a moment, his head bowed as though gathering his thoughts. When he finally looked up, his eyes found Shylo's. The hurt was unmistakable. But so was his patience.
“Give her a minute.” Without another word, he walked into the den.
No one spoke while he was gone. Shylo heard the metallic click of a key turning in a lock, followed by the muted clink of glass.
A few moments later, Shane returned carrying a bottle of bourbon and three heavy glasses. He set them on the table without comment, poured a generous measure into each one, then handed a glass to Tucker and another to Shylo. She assumed Paige didn’t get one because of her pregnancy.
After taking the last glass for himself, Shane sat back down. He stared into the amber liquid for a long moment, then took a healthy swallow before lifting his gaze to hers again.
“Start at the beginning. Tell us everything.”
Chapter 26
Shylo wrapped both hands around the glass, more for something to hold than because she wanted the drink. The amber liquid shimmered beneath the dining room light as her fingers trembled against the thick crystal. Hoping it might calm her nerves, she lifted the glass and took a tentative sip.
The bourbon scorched its way down her throat.
She coughed into her fist, blinking against the burn as tears sprang to her eyes.
“Easy,” Shane said, his voice gentle despite everything that had happened. “It'll sneak up on you if you're not used to it.”
Embarrassment crept into her cheeks as the alcohol churned in her stomach. “I've never had bourbon before.”
“I’m not a big fan either, but it helps calm me down if I’m upset about something,” Paige said with a small, encouraging smile.
Shylo managed a small nod. She'd expected anger. Instead, Shane and Paige were showing her a kindness she wasn't sure she deserved. Tucker, on the other hand, remained silent, his expression unreadable. His kindness wouldn't come nearly as easily.
The thought made it even harder to meet any of their eyes.
She set the glass back on the table and stared at the ripples she'd created. They disappeared far more quickly than the turmoil churning inside her.
“I owe all of you an apology,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “Especially you, Shane... and Seth.” Saying his name hurt. She closed her eyes for a moment before forcing herself to continue. “I should've told you who I was sooner.”
She drew a shuddering breath. “The truth is... I didn't come here planning to tell you right away. I didn't know what kind of reception I'd get or if you'd even believe me. I wanted to figure out who you were first.”
Her gaze drifted from Shane to Paige, then Tucker, before dropping back to the tabletop. “But then I got to know all of you, and every day that passed made it harder to say anything. I kept convincing myself I'd tell you tomorrow.”
