Page 107 of Sudden Summer

The nurses removed my IV earlier in the morning, and I was almost off of all monitoring. It was starting to feel like after a very long week, we were actually going to make it to the other side of things. “I think she’s missing both of us. Her mom and dad. But Jessie’s right. The priority right now is on you being healed enough to go home.”

“And trust me when I say she is in good hands.” Jessie shook her head and rolled her eyes. “When we dropped her and Beckett off with Vi and Colt, she was giggling and drooling up a storm, watching Connor bump into everything with his new walker. I’m sure she’s having a blast with her cousins.”

A sharp knock sounded at the door, and I moved my head to see who was there.

“Can we help you?” Beau gently removed his arm from around me and stood, positioning himself between the mysterious man and my hospital bed.

“I’m looking for Bernadette Calloway. I was told this was her room.” His eyes never lifted from my face.

The stranger held out his hand, but Beau simply crossed his arms over his chest and stared him down. “Who are you?”

“I’m Rory Buchanan.”

Buchanan…Just hearing the name again set me on edge. The heart rate monitor beeping picked up. Beau looked over his shoulder at me, and I tried to give my best ‘I’m okay’ stare.

“Sorry, I’m not following,” I admitted. “But I’m Birdie. You’re looking for me, why?”

“Birdie.” He nodded, as if he agreed my nickname suited me better. “I am so sorry for what’s happened.”

“Are you…related to him?”

“I…am. My family and I learned a few days ago what my brother and mother did. We don’t have the words to say how sorry we are. I’ve been in town trying to get everything settled with Ellianna’s custody. Now that it’s wrapped up, I was hoping we could speak before I take her back to Montana.”

“Alexis’s daughter?” I asked. “You’re going to take custody of her?”

“I’m her uncle.” He nodded. “And it seems Alexis’s family doesn’t have an interest in stepping up.”

“Why did you want to speak with Birdie?” Beau asked.

“Because I can’t believe what he’s done. What he’s taken from this world. I feel responsible as his family to make it right. Our father wants to make sure that whatever damages you may seek against him are all settled outside of the estate, as well.”

“Estate?” Hawk asked.

Rory nodded. “My family has a large ranch in Montana, over one hundred and ten thousand acres, where we run our cattle ranching operation from. We is a loose term—I’m not a part of that operation, so I can’t speak to anything beyond what I know just from growing up there, but my father is aware of what Sawyer’s actions could bring against the estate and our land holdings. Even if he and our mom have been estranged from our family for years.”

Rory held out the blue folder in his hand to Beau. “The estate’s lawyers have outlined a tentative agreement between…Birdie…and the Buchanan estate. A good faith effort to close any civil actions Ms. Calloway might take against my brother or my family in seeking coverage for the damages she incurred.”

“She almost died,” Beau seethed, his fingers gripping the folder so tightly I could see the pages inside bending under the force.

“And I think you’ll see numbers inside of that document outline our understanding of the severity of everything Birdie has been through because of my brother.”

“Please, stop talking about me like I’m not here,” I groaned. Jessie took a step closer to my bed, her hand squeezing my ankle.

“Chickadee…”

“He’s not his brother, Beau. And I appreciate that he’s here. Let me see those papers.”

“It’s not something you have to look through today, or even get back to me about right away. We understand you’re recuperating, and are beyond thankful for that. The offer is made in good faith until you are ready to move forward formally one way or another. Like I mentioned, I am not affiliated with my family’s business any longer, but I did nudge them in the right direction on several of the points outlined. If you have any questions, or you’d like to counteroffer, my information is inside the folder. My father has given me discretion to discuss things on his behalf.”

“Thank you,” I managed to say, swallowing around the nerves as the folder grew heavier in my hands.

“I’ll leave you to look things over. There isn’t any time pressure, Birdie. We know it’s going to take time to recover and process what happened. All my family asks is that before you take any legal or public actions, you give us the opportunity to make things right in private.”

I nodded, unable to form a sentence. Rory extended his hand to Beau, who returned the gesture. “I truly am so sorry for what my brother did. To you. To Alexis. To my niece…”

“You’re really taking her back to Montana with you?” I whispered.

Rory nodded. His hands raked through his hair and for a moment, I saw through the calm exterior. I saw the sadness in his eyes. The same worry that filled Beau’s face the night he met Juniper. “I own a bar, back in Goldfinch Falls. Live above it. I honestly have no idea how I’ll make it work, but I will. She deserves the best life. And I’m going to do everything I can to right the wrongs of my brother.”