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“That’s very sweet.”
“It is,” Joe agreed. “It makes them both happy.”
“How come you only get out of your running gear for Aunt Jess?” Jack asked.
“She’s special,” Mr. Goldhirsh said, pouring himself a coffee. He wore black trousers and a collared gray shirt. “You lot aren’t.”
This produced hoots of laughter.
Mr. Goldhirsh then made for Bailey. Placing a hand on her back, he leaned in and kissed the top of her head.
“I heard how brave you were today, girl. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you,” Bailey said politely, and the smile she gave him was genuine.
“You need anything, you call.”
“I will.” She patted the hand he had on her shoulder.
Joe wondered if she knew how many people she was friends with in Ryker. How many people would be there if she needed them. The girl who’d been alone for so long, wasn’t anymore.
The meal was laid on the table, and consisted of burgers, fries, and chocolate cake. Food for the gods, as far as the Trainer siblings were concerned, and Bailey didn’t look unhappy either as she picked up a handful of fries and stuffed the lot in her mouth.
She raised a brow at his look. “What?”
“You’re losing more of your prissiness.”
She poked out her tongue, which made him laugh, and then placed more fries in her mouth.
“Oh my God, tell me that smell is homemade burgers, Aunt Jess?” Fin arrived, looking as tired as anyone else in the room, and probably more so considering he’d spent time calling people, and dealing with the local authorities.
“It is, and you come on here for a hug, then you can eat.” Aunt Jess treated Fin like one of hers.
They ate, they talked some more, usually over each other, and Bailey observed, her eyes moving around the table, her face bemused. Joe wondered if she’d ever shared a meal like this with anyone, or eaten alone most of the time. The thought made him sad. He’d always had his siblings, even if he hadn’t appreciated them.
When a knock sounded on the door, Mr. Goldhirsh went to answer it, and came back with Clark Munro on his heels, which turned an already shit day into an even bigger pile of crap.
“Clark, what you doing here?” Bailey got to her feet, and went to him. He reached for her, hugging her hard. Joe was pleased to note she patted his back, but didn’t lean into the man like she did when Joe hugged her. She then stepped back out of reach.
Munro’s eyes shot to the people all seated around the table, listening and showing no shame about it.
“Can we go somewhere quiet, Bailey?”
“Clark, I’m tired and hungry. If you want to talk, it will have to wait, because those burgers are probably the best I’ve ever tasted.”
He hadn’t expected that either. Joe noted the surprise on his face that Bailey hadn’t complied with his wishes.Believe it, buddy, this girl is changing.
“I was in a store on the main street, and was told about the incident, and that you were involved. The fire, Bailey....” He seemed at a loss for words. “And then going up into those hills on a horse to look for the man. I don’t understand what you were thinking, to behave in such an irrational manner. Is it true you dived into the water to retrieve the body?”
He looked confused and worried. Joe guessed he was used to the quiet, subdued version of Bailey.
“I didn’t even know you could ride a horse before I came to Ryker.”
“There’s a great deal you don’t know about me, Clark, or that I know about myself for that matter, but I’m enjoying finding it out... for the most part anyway.”
Joe wondered if she was thinking about him or Elijah Neil. Looking at her in his shirt, hair loose, face scrubbed bare, Joe guessed she was a world away from the uptight, label-wearing pianist Clark Munro knew.
“We don’t stand on ceremony here. I’m Aunt Jess, and Clark, is it?”
