Page 102 of Reckoning

“It was her granny’s house, right?”

Tate nodded. “Everything about it says home to her, and that’s something she sorely missed before.” Then he heard someone shout his name and turned to look. His dad was coming toward them in long, hurried strides with a smile.

Abel launched himself at them, gathered them up in one giant hug, then started issuing orders.

“Grab your stuff. I’m illegally parked, but the guard is asleep in his truck, so we’re good if we hurry.”

They didn’t waste a second. Briar was almost running, trying to keep up with their long-legged strides. A few minutes later, they were in Abel’s truck and headed out of town.

Her glimpses of the countryside reminded her a lot of the geography of Star Ridge, except there was more open land for cattle to graze and crops to raise. She was riding in the back seat, listening to father and son in quiet delight, wondering how some people had amazing relationships with their parents, while people like her did their best to survive them.

“Briar, honey, there’s the house,” Tate said, and smiled when he saw how big the pink azalea that he’d given his mother had grown. It was at least a foot taller and covered in blooms.

Briar leaned forward. The white, two-story house with gingerbread trim and a wraparound porch was an enchanting piece of Victorian past. And then she saw Lilith, standing at the front steps waving, and her eyes welled. This is what homecoming should look like.

“It’s beautiful! And there’s your sweet mama.”

Lilith ran to meet them as they parked, hugging Tate, hugging Briar, talking and laughing, and hugging some more as they made their way inside.

Briar watched Tate’s face softening, letting go of all the hard stuff and bad stuff he’d seen. This was healing for him. He’d come to refill the well within. Then he turned abruptly, looking for her, and came striding across the room.

“Come with me, darlin’. I’ll show you the house. As usual, Mama has something to tend to in the kitchen.”

That night they ate by the light of an ancient chandelier, and when they couldn’t stay awake any longer, Tate took her to bed, snuggled her close, and fell asleep to the yips and howls of coyotes, hunting in the night.

The next morning, Tate kissed Briar awake, made slow, sweet love to her, then aimed her in the direction of the old claw-foot tub she’d seen last night to take a bath. She was already running water and stripping out of the Tulane T-shirt she’d slept in.

“Take your time, love. Mama has a dozen things planned for you to do together. I know she’s taking you to meet her parents, and Dad’s bound and determined to show me off a little at his work. I’ll drive myself back in his truck and go get him when it’s time for him to come home. I’ll be back in a few hours. Is that okay?”

Briar stepped into the tub and began sinking down into the warm, deep water. “I’m fine. Between your lovemaking and this glorious tub, I’m just going to finish melting right here.”

He laughed out loud, then leaned down and kissed her goodbye.

Lilith heard his laughter all the way down the stairs, and she looked at Abel and sighed. “Hearing their laughter is so familiar. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed these two until I’m hearing them again.”

“Tate’s riding in with me. He’s driving back before noon and then will come get me when I get off work,” Abel said.

“That’s fine, but he’s going to eat the breakfast I made him before you leave,” she said.

Abel winked. “Yes, ma’am. I hear and obey.”

She rolled her eyes. “Hush it, mister. Nobody leaves my house hungry.”

Tate walked into the kitchen, gave his mama a big hug, then snatched a piece of bacon. “Smells good, Mama. Briar found the big claw-foot tub. She’s in heaven.”

“It’s the best,” Lilith said. “I’ll let her wander down on her own. I’m not going anywhere.”

When they sat down to eat, he told them about being hired to find Cornelius Wilson, and the chopper his wife sent to bring him to Denver.

“He’d been missing a week?” Abel said.

Tate nodded and told him the story. By the time the story ended, so had their meal. A few minutes later, they were gone.

* * *

The dealership was just opening when they arrived. Abel parked, then he and Tate walked in through the service entrance. Mechanics and clerks were just arriving, and the manager was coming in to check in with the crew before going back to his office.

They all saw Abel come in with another guy, then realized this was Tate, the famous son.