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“I remember that day.”
I spin toward the doorway where my younger brother, Harley, now stands in his dark blue jeans covered in what looks to be dirt.
I rush to him, throw my arms around his neck, and he wraps his around me. He squeezes so tight I choke on my words. “It’s good to see you.”
“I passed Hud outside, and he told me you were here. I’m so glad you’re home, Dee.” Harley finally releases me, and I take a big breath.
“I swear, you haven’t aged a day since I left. Can you share your secrets with me?” I laugh, taking him in. He looks so much like Dad with his dark chocolate eyes, and for some reason, he has the same stubble growing as Hudson. “What’s with the unshaven look you and Hud have going?”
Harley rakes his hand through his already misplaced hairdo. “The ladies like it.” He shrugs, giving me a wry grin.
I roll my eyes. “Seriously? You two need to find yourselves wives. It surely can’t be that hard.”
“It’s mostly families who come here. It’s kind of hard to meet someone, especially when the neighbors are older than you and you’re on-again-off-again feuding with them, so we’re told to stay away. Then there’s River Valley. That’s a fair drive. Who can deal with long distance?”
I shove him in the arm. “That’s not long distance. It’s like a two-hour drive. As for neighbors, they’re not bad. You’re just afraid of commitment.”
“Yeah, yeah. One day, the right person will come along. You were always supposed to be the one who had the first grandchild.”
My stomach drops, and I release a nervous laugh. How will he feel in a couple of days when Olive shows up?
Clearing my throat, I walk past Harley and back out into the barn. “Come on. I need to get settled and check in with the other girls.”
“They’re going to be happy to see you.”
“Don’t say that. Hudson did about Dad, and that didn’t go down so well.”
Harley wraps his bulky arm over my shoulder. “Don’t worry about Dad. Things here have been up and down over the years. The girls going through stuff. Taking care of Odette. Taking care of the business and all that entails with the holiday stays, teaching, and therapies. It’s full-on. We have plenty of help, though, which has been good. Now you’re back, maybe you can bring with you some order and get some of your sisters back down here in the barn, working again. Although they are busy with their own things that help the ranch.”
“Well, if they want to escape the house because I’m back, then I’m sure you’ll have no problem getting them out to the barn,” I joke.
“Don’t let Dad’s mood dampen yours. You’re home, and that’s more important than anything. You deserve to be here.”
“Thanks for the support.” My brothers usually side with Dad, so this is new territory. They sided with him the night hurtful words were slung at me like hard stones and did nothing to support me. Letting go of that anger is something I’ve worked hard on. I’m still not sure that I am fully there yet, either. Perhaps with this trip home, I can end that chapter of my life and move on from it all.
We’re about to step out of the barn when the phone to the right rings.
“Time to sharpen those skills, sis, if you plan on staying.” Harley gives me a wry grin, points to the unmanned desk and gestures to the phone. “Go ahead.”
I hesitate briefly before picking it up.
“I THINK THIS IS FORthe best. Your girls are the most important and precious people in your life. They need their dad.”
I stare across the table at James, the team principal of Haze Formula One Team.
Rage.
Anger.
Frustration.
Hurt.
Loss.
A heart can only take so much.
“Will I have a spot next year, or is this it? I had plans. I was so close to world champion. I can do that again.” I want to slam my hand on the table. They’re obviously not hearing me and only seeing what I’ve been through and using that against me.
