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Then he goes rigid.
“What’s the matter?” I ask.
He pulls something out of the safe, but it’s not a ring. Clasped between his fingers is an amber-colored feather.
“What’s that?”
“A feather,” he says, his tone robotic.
“Where’s the ring?”
“It’s not here.”
My skin chills. “Did you move it? I mean, maybe your dad moved it.”
“Yeah, maybe.” His facial muscles relax a bit. He places the feather back inside the safe, closes it, and then replaces the painting.
“That’s beautiful,” I say.
“My dad’s horse. His name was Phoenix.”
“That’s an unusual name.”
“It made sense for him at the time. My dad…he… Let’s just say he had some shit go down in his life.”
I swallow. “You mean…similar to the shit you had?”
He nods. “Just between you and me…yeah.”
My hand flies to my mouth. Talon Steel? Donny? Nausea climbs up my throat.
“Callie, it’s okay. We’re all okay.”
I nod. I believe him.
But I still feel sick. We walk out of the office and back through the house to the kitchen, where I toss my half-eaten piece of cake into the wastebasket.
“You okay, Donny?” I ask.
He smiles, brushes his lips against mine. “I’m going to marry the most wonderful woman in the world. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
I smile weakly. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Callie. Always and forever.”
Rory clamors into the kitchen then. “Callie! There you are. I need to talk to you.”
I look to Donny.
“Go ahead,” he says. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
I follow Rory out onto the deck. She grabs my arm and pulls me over to a secluded part of the yard.
“Cal,” she says, “I have an idea, and don’t say anything until you hear me out.”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
DONNY
