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“Are you okay,” Matt asked.
“It’s just hair and it will grow back,” Evie reassured.
“Just making sure,” Matt expressed. “Back to your bio-father, you and Saylor were saved, but I’m so sorry you went through that. That must have been so scary.”
“It was at the time… and hard while learning to deal with the actions of a parent who wanted to harm me. Looking back now, I thought I’d never be the same again, but the Lord was with me. I wanted Him with me because I trusted in His love and that I would one day feel better.”
“You are amazing,” Matt uttered. “I’m not sure I deserve to be in your presence!”
Evie laughed and grabbed his hand. “I have many faults, and I’m sure as time wears on, you’ll see them. I still have no idea where this relationship will lead us. There are many other questions we have for each other, so let’s enjoy this evening and get to know each other.”
“Agreed. So… where were we?”
“Mission, I think?”
“That’s right, so I’m guessing that going on a mission was put on hold.”
Evie nodded. “It wasn’t the time for me. Maybe as an adult, I’ll go, but during that time, I doubled my focus on my education and got my veterinary degree earlier than I had anticipated.”
“So, what happened to him? You said he died. How did he die?”
“He died during the recovery of Saylor. You’ll have to ask Ryker for the particulars, but I’m just grateful my sister and Ryker are safe.”
“I’m grateful you are safe,” Matt echoed as he leaned over and gently kissed Evie on the forehead.
On cue, Evie’s stomach grumbled, and they both laughed.
“We heard that from in here!” yelled one of her brothers.
“Then pause that stupid game and let’s find something to eat!” Evie yelled back.
The four gathered in the kitchen as Matt opened the refrigerator.
“Did she tell you she can’t cook?” Boden interjected.
“Yep,” responded Matt. “And I don’t care. Lucky for you two fools, I’m a great cook!”
“Oh, no!” moaned Evie. Matt looked quizzically at her but before she could explain that it was never a good idea to insult Ryker, the three grown men were on the floor engaged in a friendly… but not so friendly… war of wrestling.
Chapter 20
Matt sat back on the couch in the hotel suite and observed the woman he loved casually converse with her brothers. The sting from the rug burn on his knee was slowly dissipating but he felt some sort of pride trickle down his back as a red mark on Ryker’s cheek where he had elbowed him was quite evident. Matt couldn’t say whether the other red marks that emerged on both Ryker and Boden were from their most recent wrestling match or from matches the two of them had earlier.
Either way, when they had finished… mainly because Evie demanded they finish… the two brothers offered him a hand up from the ground and patted him on the back with grunts of approval.
After they finished eating, the brothers returned to the bedroom and Evie looked at Matt with her list in hand.
“Ask me a question,” Matt began.
“What happened to your mom and why is your relationship with your dad so rocky?”
“My parents always argued. I don’t remember a time when they didn’t. One day, as they were “discussing” whatever it was they were arguing about at the time, my mom got mad and threw something at my dad. It got stuck in his leg and after that, they divorced.
“My mom wanted to move to Sacramento and take us with her, but my dad loved living in Viola and he refused to let her take us, so she left. We didn’t see her for many years afterward until Emma became a part of our lives. Emma has been so good for my dad… and for us… and we were happy for a while.”
“What happened?”
“I’m surprised Amanda never told you,” Matt replied.
