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Chapter 3
TAYLOR
Listeningto the conversation going on around the table, I keep my eyes averted from the heated glare Penelope keeps giving me. I honestly don’t care if she’s pissed at me. She’s been pissed for weeks now. And quite frankly, I’m not too happy with her either. I just don’t want to deal with her attitude. Besides, it’s her fault she signed the one man she knew I obsess over. She shouldn’t have expected anything less than what I’ve been doing since he showed up in town.
I usually love these weekly family get-togethers, but right now, I can’t wait for it to be over so I can go home.
“So, big brother. How’s life on the other side of the pulpit?”
Camila’s question pulls me out of my thoughts.
Wesley pins her with a look that suggests she might want to watch her mouth. “Don’t,” he states simply.
“What?” Camila asks, injecting innocence in her tone we all know isn’t there. “I’m just curious.” She looks around the room to each of us. “I know I can’t be the only one.”
She’s not lying. I’m also curious how Wesley is handling not being a priest anymore. As much as it surprised us all when he decided to dedicate his life to the church, it was just as surprising when he announced he was leaving that part of his life behind. All because of the woman beside him; Jersey, the woman who stole food from the church’s food bank to feed her and her little brother, Sam. Their situation is fucked up. Sam’s more so than Jersey’s. Separated years ago when their parents died, Jersey went to live with one family, while Sam was fostered by Silver Falls’ mayor and his family. It wasn’t until recently that Jersey found out Mayor Beckett and his younger son, Mark, were sexually abusing her little brother. Thankfully, both men are currently in police custody, and it doesn’t look like the trial that’s to follow will end in their favor.
“How are you liking homeschool, Sam?” I ask, changing the subject.
Wesley has temporary custody of Sam since Jersey only recently found a job in Silver Falls and doesn't have a place of her own. Between him, the state, and his counselor, they all agreed homeschooling was the best thing for him right now. Kids can be assholes, and the news of the mayor and his son is well-known. I’d bet one of my autographed Grey Water CDs that some of the punks in school would say shit to the kid.
He shrugs, picking up a biscuit and breaking off a piece. “It’s okay.” He shoves the small piece in his mouth. “I never thought I’d say I miss school, but I kinda do.”
Jersey glances over at her brother, a look of concern crossing her face. “You haven’t told me you miss school.”
“Because there’s no sense in telling you. I understand why I can’t go right now.”
She bumps her shoulder with Sam’s. “Hopefully, next year things will have calmed down by then.”
“Yeah.”
I feel sorry for Sam. His life has been turned upside down. It can’t be easy on him. But then, it was a lot worse when he lived with the mayor.
I drop my fork on my plate and wipe my mouth. Only a little bit longer before I can get out of here and away from the glare I still feel on the side of my face.
Sliding my chair back, I grab my plate and get to my feet. “Who’s ready for cake?”
Most of our weekly dinners are at Penelope’s house, because she’s the one with the biggest table that fits all of us. She cooks dinner, while someone else always brings dessert. It was my turn this week, and I decided on a chocolate-on-chocolate homemade cake. It was our mother’s recipe, and I’m the only one who can make it taste just like hers.
I carry my plate to the kitchen and load it into the dishwasher. I’m reaching for a stack of paper plates when the kitchen door opens behind me. I glance over my shoulder, expecting to see Wesley coming to help, but it’s not his eyes I meet.
Irritation prickles through me when Penelope stands just inside the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, just spit it out already,” I grumble, turning back to my task.
“Asa mentioned he met you yesterday,” she replies in a calm voice I know she’s not really feeling.
“Yeah, so?”
“I told you to stay away from him, Taylor.”
I spin around and lean back against the counter, mirroring her stance by crossing my arms. “News flash, sister. Just because you’re a whopping three minutes older than me doesn’t mean I have to do everything you say.”
“Damn it, Taylor. You can’t follow him around everywhere. He’s my client, and it makes my company look bad. I pride myself on professionalism, and having my sister stalk one of my clients makes me look otherwise.”
“What exactly did he say to you?”
Did Asa really tattle on me to my sister? He didn’t seem the petty type, but maybe I was wrong about him.
She drops her arms and moves across the room. Yanking out one of the drawers, she pulls out a knife to cut the cake.
“Just that he bumped into you,” she states. “But I know you, so I know it was more than that.”
“Love you too,” I mutter and turn my back to her to grab some plastic forks.
“He was also asking about you,” she adds a moment later.
Now that grabs my attention. My heart does a little flip. “He did?”
“Yes. Which again makes me believe more happened than just him bumping into you.”
I take a moment before I ask, “What did he ask?”
