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“My brothers still call me a nerd, but yeah. I vowed back then to make sure I always had enough to bail out any of my family.”
“I remember,” Annie said.
“Did you come here to warn us about the story resurfacing? Because you could have just called.” I said this as gently as possible, by no means wanting to hurt her, but curious just the same.
“I could have just called, yes, but something told me to comehome. Now that I’m here, I realize how reckless it was to return. Nothing’s been traced back to your family yet, thank God. You’re the Moon family now, so they would have to really dig to figure out Rex Sharp was your father. Still, I worry. I don’t want anyone to find out I’m here, but I’m not sure that’s possible. If one of the guests sees me and posts about it, I’m toast. The paparazzi will swoop in and try to take photos.”
“You can stay at my house. I’ve got a whole guest suite. You’ll have as much privacy as you need there. That way you can really lie low.”
“That’s very generous, but I’m not sure I can take you up on it. I mean, it’s been a long time. You don’t know me now.”
“My experience tells me people don’t really change.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Plus, I want to show off my house. It’s pretty great.”
“I’m sure it is.” She swiped at the corners of both eyes, her gaze traveling over the snow and then upward toward the blue sky. “Gosh, it’s so good to see you.”
“Hard to believe it’s been this long. I didn’t think you’d ever come back.”
“Neither did I.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But it’s time for me to confront the past. And hopefully heal. I haven’t, you know. Not even after all this time.”
“What we went through—it’s not something you just get over.”
“Have you?” She tilted her head, watching me.
“I’ll never forgive either one of them for what they did to Mama and to you. I remember those years before it happened very well. Back when we were best friends. Inseparable. After you left, I missed you so much it hurt.”
“Same for me,” Annie said.
“I want to hear everything about your life. Every detail.”
“Ditto.”
“Please, come stay with me. At least through the weekend.” I smiled and instinctively reached for her hand. “This is a safe place. We’ve got you.”
Her face crumpled, and she pressed her free hand to her mouth, obviously trying not to cry. “Atticus, you always were the kindest human I ever met.”
I drew her into another hug and whispered into her ear. “We’ve got you. I’ve got you. Welcome home.”
I thoughtabout taking her to lunch at the Bunkhouse but decided it was too risky. Instead, I suggested we get her packed up and head over to my place. “I’ll have Caspian send us some lunch over to the house. Safer that way.”
“Your mom said there was only one other guest here this weekend.”
“Yeah, but people from town come out for lunch and dinner,” I said. “It’s safer if you’re with me at the house.”
“Your mom invited me for dinner tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”
“I guess it’ll have to be,” I said, teasing. “It would be awkward to send you to your room while the rest of us enjoyed a meal.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not intruding. Everyone’s going to be so excited to see you.” I grinned, shaking my head. “Hopefully the Moon family won’t scare you away. We can be a little loud. My brothers will probably drink too much of my good whiskey and start ribbing one another until Mama makes them stop.”
“Sounds like fun.”
I left Annie to pack up her things while Scout and I dropped in to the office to tell Finley there was a change in plans.
