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“Of course, princess.” Dad’s smooth reply rippled with adoration.
Bennett’s stomach burned.
Gemma dove into the water and performed a handstand, her manicured toes pointing straight up to the clear blue late-September sky. Then she pulled them in as she executed a perfect flip-turn and sprang to the surface.
Chip clapped. “I give it a ten, baby doll.”
Her smile stretched. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“When you girls are done, I’ve ordered some of those yummy cinnamon crispies you like.”
A round of squeals ensued from all three girls, loud enough to wake the perpetually sullen Nathan, who had not emerged from his bedroom before one in the afternoon since Bennett had been there. Likely because he stayed up until the wee hours of the morning playing on the new iPhone Dad had gifted him with as a back-to-school conciliatory prize.
How could Chip be this stupid?
He was buying them off. Just as he’d attempted to do with Bennett. And it was revolting.
Bennett wanted no part in aiding his dad’s continued trek into the great abyss of self-indulgence. But those kids . . .
At least when Chip had abandoned Bennett, Bennett had still had his faithful mother. Nathan and Gemma?
From what Bennett could see, Mindi wasn’t much like his mom. Starting with the fact that she was willing to dump her teenage kids off on a stepson she barely knew. No, not starting there. Starting with the fact that over a dozen years before, with zero qualms, she’d been sleeping with a man who was married to someone else.
Nathan and Gemma would get washed out to sea in this churning storm of selfish living, and they would have no one to show them what real love and faithfulness looked like.
That possibility broke Bennett’s heart.
Three
Atthesoundofhis truck’s approach, Hunter straightened from the card table he’d unfolded and set up. Hazel was back.
He shot a grin toward Evan Kerst, the man who had also been leaning over the table, where the blueprints had been unrolled and held down by rocks. “That’ll be my sister.”
“Good. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
Hunter’s smile slipped, and he shot a silent, urgent plea that Hazel would be in a good mood. Was that how prayer worked, or was it irreverent to do it that way before the God who was King of kings? He hoped God would understand the situation—and he’d ask John about the rules of prayer later.
The engine cut, and then the sound of a door squeaking open and slapping shut rippled through the forest. Several birds’ wings rumpled the calm as they left their safe perches, annoyed by the intrusive disturbance. The churling of an offended marmot carried on the thin mountain air. Hunter watched the mild chaos happening at the tops of the pines and then moved his gaze to the path that would deliver Hazel from the end of the road to his camp.
There she was, her hair twisted in a braid that draped over her shoulder and head topped with Pops’s leather hat. She wore a long-sleeve plaid shirt—likely one that Janie had gifted her at some point—and bootcut jeans. Typical Hazel apparel.
“There you are.” Hunter strode to meet her, then walked beside her as they made their way to the table. “This is Evan, our head contractor.”
Hazel shot Hunter a quizzical glance, but Evan held out his hand to shake hers, stalling whatever was about to spill from her lips. Hunter couldn’t be sure, but that might be a good thing. Hazel had said she’d support him on this business venture, but he knew she didn’t love it. And if something had provoked her in town—which, by the way her brows had been folded into a scowl, was possible—his little sister might not be her aimable self. After all, that version of Hazel wasn’t well practiced.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Evan’s handshake and demeanor were professional. “Shall we get started?”
“Started?” Hazel’s questioning look once again found Hunter.
“Right. Evan wants to solidify the details before we break ground.”
“You haven’t started yet?” Now her brows lifted.
Something soft unfolded in Hunter’s chest at his sister’s shocked response. “Of course not. We waited for you.”
“You—why?”
“We’re in this together, right?”
