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She breathed through her mouth to try to keep the tears at bay. It mostly worked. She didn’t sob. She didn’t break down, but a few tears escaped. She had no idea why. It was so stupid. She’d go pick them up on Monday. What to do with them after wasn’t even her decision to make. Her father could keep them or bury them or spread them over his land. It wasn’t her responsibility.
Somehow she still didn’t feel better.
A coyote howled somewhere in the north. Another answered. Sophie wished she and Alex were already back at her place, warm under the covers and falling asleep. But when Alex asked if she was ready to ride, her heart leaped again. Yes.
She didn’t want to sleep yet. She wanted to fly.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“HAS ANYONE SEEN my kitten?” his mom asked.
Alex slanted an impatient look across the table. Yes, he’d seen her kitten exactly one hour before. It had been curled up against Sophie’s naked back before Alex had chased it off with a friendly nudge. He’d needed that back to himself.
“There’s one right there,” he said, pointing to a tabby slinking across the floor.
“No, the kitten is gray—” his mom started, but he cut her off.
“Maybe she’s lost here in the dining room.”
“It’s not that,” she snapped. “She goes outside.”
“Kittens aren’t safe outside,” he snapped back.
Shane rolled his eyes. “Let’s worry about the cat another day.”
Alex glared at both of them. He was too tired and irritated to be sitting at this so-called dining room table that was piled a foot high with papers and pictures and mail.
“All right, is everyone ready?” Shane asked.
Alex glanced down at his black jeans. Not exactly funeral wear, but this wasn’t exactly a funeral. Black jeans were the most formal thing he owned at the moment, but he figured he looked okay with the white shirt and gray tie that Shane had loaned him. He’d shaved his scalp and face, at least, so he wouldn’t scare any of the other guests.
“I’m ready,” their mom said. She was dressed in a black dress and sweater and even wore a little hat with a black veil. Yeah, she was ready, and pretty excited about the whole thing. “Alex, I just wish you’d reconsider. It’s not right.”
“I’m not making a speech, Mom, and that’s the end of it.”
“After everything he did for you, it’s the least you can do for him.”
“He’s dead, Mom. He doesn’t really care at this point.”
She gasped as if he’d slapped her. “He laid there for twenty-four years and you—”
“That’s right. He was there for twenty-four years. He wasn’t in Mexico. He wasn’t on the beach. He wasn’t kidnapped or injured or wandering the country with amnesia. All those days and weeks and years you made us look for him were wasted. Every single one. I don’t remember much about him except that wasted time and those made-up stories, thanks to you. I don’t remember the real man anymore. So no, I won’t be making a speech about him.”
He expected Shane to jump in and shut him up, but Shane didn’t say a word.
Their mom pressed her knuckles to her mouth. “That’s outrageous!” she cried.
Shane finally spoke. “Leave him alone, Mom. It’s time to go.”
“Leave him alone? He’s the one saying crazy things! Not me! I’m not crazy!”
“Nobody said you were crazy.”
Alex opened his mouth but Shane shot him a quelling look. Alex shrugged. Fine. Not today.
“Come on, Mom. Let’s get going.”
She wiped tears from her face and sniffed. “Fine. I just need to find my papers.”
