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“That’s right. Mine. Since you brought him up, I’m sure you remember Nolan. He has ways of making people…pay for things.”
I gave Tim’s chest a good push, causing his back to hit the door of his hotel room.
“Do we understand each other?” I asked.
For the longest moment he simply stared at me, then smiled and rubbed his chin. “You can have Saryn. Enjoy my sloppy seconds, brother.”
Before I had a chance to go after him, Ryan did. I stood by and let Ryan get in about three good punches before I pulled him off.
“Let it go. He’s not worth it, Ryan,” I said.
Ryan pointed to Tim. “You ever step foot on our family’s ranch and I will personally shoot you dead.”
Tim swallowed hard, got up, and attempted to straighten his clothes, then opened the door.
“Get out of my room. Now.”
As we made our way out of the hotel and back to Ryan’s truck, I worked at calming myself down. We got into the truck, and Ryan looked at me.
“Nolan has ways of making people pay for things? Dude, he’s a test pilot in the Air Force!”
I scoffed. “Tim doesn’t know that. And that’s what you got from that? Did you hear the whole part about him being my half-brother?”
Ryan nodded. “I was trying to forget that part.”
We both laughed, and Ryan shook his right hand out. “Fucker has a steel jaw.”
Flexing my own hand, I found myself suddenly needing to see Saryn and Liliana. “Let’s get out of here.”
Without a word, Ryan started the truck and we drove back to Saryn’s house in silence. The first thing I needed to do after I saw Saryn and Liliana was talk to Roger about the bomb Tim had dropped on me.
Then we needed to talk to our father.
Saryn
TRUITT HADN’T ACTED the same since he and Ryan came back to my house yesterday. It wasn’t that he was distant, but something felt off. Even Ryan seemed to be taken aback by something. I decided I’d let it go, for now. If Truitt needed to talk to me about something, he would.
I slipped the French toast I had made onto the plate and put a little bit of butter on it. Liliana smiled as she waited for me to cut it into strips for her to dip.
“Two days in a row with the sweet breakfast,” I said.
Liliana smiled. “Yummy!”
I glanced out the kitchen window. I could see Truitt standing outside, Rus sitting next to him. He looked lost.
The back door opened, and my mom walked in. “Good morning! I’ve come to see if I could take this little one off your hands for a few hours and take her to work with me. Santa is going to be visiting the stores and giving out goodies.”
Liliana’s eyes went wide. “Santa!”
My mother looked so proud of herself in that moment. Santa shopping on Main had been her idea a few years ago, and it had been a huge success.
“Sure, I’ll probably swing by, if you can give me a heads up on what time he’ll be there.”
She nodded and then wiped Liliana’s face. “He’s slated to be at the store at one.”
That gave me the whole morning with Truitt. I knew he was going stir crazy, and I needed to get him out of the house.
“Perfect.”
My mother glanced down at Saryn. “You ready to go, sweet pea?”
“Yes! May I get Muke?”
“Of course! The more the merrier!” my mother exclaimed as she took my daughter’s hand in hers and they made their way out of the kitchen and upstairs.
The back door opened, and I heard Truitt walk in. He was using his cane and that made me so happy.
“How’s the knee?” I asked.
“Actually, it’s doing pretty good. Listen, I need to run to my house and grab some more stuff if I’m going to stay here, or maybe I should just plan on heading home?”
He looked at me with an expression that seemed so unsure.
“I vote for you packing up some stuff and staying here.”
A beautiful smile spread across his face. “That one gets my vote, as well.”
Liliana and my mother came back into the kitchen. Mom was carrying her coat and a bag she must have packed up quickly.
“We are all set,” Mom said. “You two enjoy the morning and I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I kissed Liliana goodbye. “I love you, be good for Grammy.”
“I will, Mommy!” Liliana said, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck. When she let me go, she made her way over to Truitt. She carefully hugged his left side. “I see you, Twuitt. Miss you!”
My mother and I both sighed as we watched the exchange and saw Truitt light up.
“I’ll miss you, too, pumpkin.” Truitt looked up at me, confused.
“She’s going to the store with Mom, and we’ll meet them there in a bit,” I said.
