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He gave his head a slight shake and took me into his arms. I snaked mine around his waist and buried my face against him. The scent of motor oil and Holt settled my racing heart.
He tangled his fingers in my hair and pulled my head back.
“What happened?” I whispered.
His eyes were turbulent. “Shewas there.” The words were pained as he choked them out.
“Your sister didn’t accept your apology?”
He was quiet a moment before he finally spoke. “She did.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“My mother was there.”
Holy crap.Why would she have been at Marlow’s?
“I thought . . .”
“That none of us had anything to do with her,” he finished. “Me too.”
He dropped his chin to the top of my head. His pulse throbbed at the base of his neck. I clutched his shirt in my fists and held him close.
“Here.” Andrew handed Holt an open bottle of water.
The oven timer beeped, and we disentangled to help Trish set the table.
Once we were all settled around it, our plates filled, Andrew cleared his throat. “What the hell happened?”
Holt downed some water and picked at the edge of the label. I touched his knee under the table where it bounced in a restless rhythm.
“I thought it was Patrick. Butshesat at the kitchen table, holding Blake like she fucking knew him.” Holt glanced at Ella. “Sorry, Trish.”
“It’s okay,” she said softly, giving him a reassuring smile.
“She said she’s been here the whole time. What does that even mean? Has she been in Marlow’s life all along?”
Andrew’s face went blank. “I don’t know.”
“I have to tell Dad.”
He gaped at Holt. “Is that a good idea?”
“Your sister didn’t think so.” Bitterness threaded Holt’s words.
“Let me talk to her.”
Trish touched Andrew’s arm. “Holt’s right. Your dad deserves to know.”
He grimaced. “This is going to hurt him.”
Holt shook his bottle at Andrew a few times. “What is she up to? She’s after me. You. Marlow. Dad. Why now?”
“It makes no sense.”
“I swear it’s like she was watching Dad, saw he was happy with Mrs. Quinn. Thensheshows up and everything goes to hell.” Holt pushed his plate away.
“You should’ve seen him the day she’d come by to see him.” Andrew’s fork dangled from his fingers. “He was as distraught as I’ve ever known him to be.”
