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They all moved inside the house eventually, the Chief and his deputies as well. Tag’s credit cards were traced but he hadn’t used them. He had taken a large amount of cash out of his bank account. Now they waited and let the police do their work in tracking down Tag Richardson.
At midnight, Luka was on the porch swing in jeans and a cotton shirt. His feet were bare. His thoughts a mess. What if Tag hurt Skylar? He wanted to hurt him but Luka had to think of Ava now. He leaned his head back and pressed his eyes hard with his fingertips. He kept thinking about Skylar at seventeen, so trusting as she gazed through the screen door at him. He had left her. He had hurt her by leaving her. He leaned forward on his elbows. The screen door slamming shut startled him. Brett cringed. “I forget that damn door’s spring doesn’t work.”
“Me too.”
He took a seat by his brother. They rocked back and forth in silence. All of the officers had gone back to the station except Isaac. Ramona was in bed with Ava. Chloe was in her bedroom asleep. Roxy was on the couch with Stellan. Neither of them were sure that was a good idea. Their mother was in Sky’s room asleep. His remaining brothers were scattered through the house in empty bedrooms.
“You can’t sleep?”
“No,” he replied. “I’m worried about Skylar. She’s my best friend. I’m worried about Ramona. Did she do something to the baby when she fell? I’m scared as hell. I’m going to be a father.”
“You’ll be a good father Brett. You were a great substitute for Ava.”
“It wasn’t the same Luka.” He had told him that already.
“I guess not. Means something different when it’s your own.”
“It does.” He hesitated.
“What Brett?”
“I want Ramona to marry me but I don’t want her to think that it’s because of the baby. I love her man. I have for a very long time.” Luka clapped his brother on the back. “I want to be there every day with her. Raise our kids. All the mushy stuff women say and want to hear. I want that.”
“Why are you telling me and not her?”
“Because I’ve never really been sure of Ramona and how she feels about me Luka.” He leaned back in the swing. “She has been so frustrating. That girl turned fifteen and suddenly I thought she’s not a little girl anymore. I want her.”
Luka laughed. “I remember.”
“She wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“Because she thought you liked Sky.”
“Sky and I have a special relationship but it’s always been platonic. Something neither of you understood.”
Luka turned his head and gazed out over the fields in front of the house. The four Bradford girls had been coming to his parent’s house since Skylar and Brett became friends. As each one got a little older another sister tagged along with her.
“You have to look at it from our perspective. It can be a little challenging being on the outside looking in when you two need each other before you need one of us.”
Brett scoffed. “She only needed me when you weren’t available.”
He turned his head towards his brother. He started to say that wasn’t true. Then he realized Brett was right. He had always been good and shutting down emotionally whenever things got difficult and that is when she turned to Brett.
“So tell Ramona how you feel. Talk to her. Something I didn’t do well with Skylar. Tell her that you want to marry her. Don’t let her slip through your fingers like I did Sky.”
The door creaked a little. Then it opened wide. Ramona stepped onto the porch. “I’m sorry for eavesdropping boys but I heard.”
Brett rose from the swing and went to her. He lifted her off her feet. “I love you baby. So much.” He kissed her cheek then he kissed her. “I don’t have a ring yet but I do want to marry you.”
She nodded. Then she cupped his cheeks. “I think we’ve been playing around long enough Brett especially now that we’re going to be parents.”
Luka gazed at them with longing. This is what he wanted with Skylar. He was scared that they wouldn’t find her in time. He rubbed his hand across his jaw.
“Why don’t you guys go to Ramona’s old room where I’ve been and I’ll let you know if we hear anything.”
“Thanks Luka. You need your rest too,” Ramona told him.
“I can’t sleep right now. I’ll just sit here for a bit.”
