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“No.” I swallow and shake my head, unsure why I need to tell him this. “It was you. I heard her yell your name and I was afraid for you.”

His brows cinch and his lips quirk up as if I’m joking. “Afraid?”

“Yes, she was always so cold with me and my siblings. I watched you talk to one another, and then she hugged you. It frightened me a little.”

He’s quiet, his face sober, his eyes focusing on mine.

“She never hugged me. I don’t know the woman you knew. I don’t know why it was like that with my family, but I wish I had known her like you did.” A tear rolls down my face. Before I can swat it away, Logan reaches over, drying the space beneath my eye with the pad of his thumb.

From the corner of my eye, I see Dad striding over, probably to stop my spectacle. I step away from Logan’s touch. “I have to go.”

“Liv,” Dad calls from a dozen steps away, his tone a warning.

“I’m coming.” A shuddering breath leaves my mouth. “Goodbye, Logan.” And once again, I’m trailing after my father.

My heart thumps, a weight in my chest dragging me down as I move farther and farther from my one true link to Amelia.

Dad’s bolting for the car, his long legs striding like he’s winning a race, when⁠—

“Nails bells! You’re not leaving, are ya?” Rachel hops in front of Dad, stopping his trek.

“We must,” Dad says, not bothering to fake politeness.

“There’s a luncheon. And we were hoping you might stay a few days, what with Miss Olivia being the new owner of Amelia’s house and all.”

Wow, news spreads fast in Rendezvous.

“No” is the only explanation he gives her before pushing past the small woman.

“Wait,” I call. “What about Uncle Earl? We didn’t say goodbye to him.”

Dad slaps a palm to his forehead, all his patience lost. “Earl has already finished off a six-pack. He won’t remember you saying goodbye, and come tonight he’ll be on a plane home.”

“I just⁠—”

“What, Livy? What?”

I wish he understood. I wish he felt this pull. I wish I could talk to him like… like I normally do! “I don’t feel ready.”

“Then stay,” says a low voice behind me. Logan has trailed behind us.

Splotchy pink spreads up Dad’s neck and into his cheeks as he laughs sarcastically.

I look from my dad to Logan.

“Olivia,” Dad growls. “Your responsibilities, your boyfriend, your life—it’s a thousand miles away. Now, get in that car.” He’s right—I said all that to Logan myself.

I lift my hand for one more wave before climbing into the passenger seat. “My things are at Amelia’s.”

“I don’t understand you, Olivia,” Dad huffs, shifting the car into drive. “You need to get your head out of a book.” One beat passes and he sighs. “Honey, you’re my little girl. I’m trying to help you, protect you, like always. Amelia is not a fairytale character.”

And while his tone has softened, he’s hit a nerve. “Which is it, Dad? Am I a grown-up or your little girl?” He’s made an argument for both.

I’m thankful for the sight of Meeteetse Road and Amelia’s house. Before Dad can answer, I open the car door, slamming it behind me, and march inside.

I hurry up the stairs and shut myself in Dad’s old bedroom. Sun beams through the window and I breathe. Pulling out my cell, I call Benjamin.

“Hey, sweetie, how far along are you?”