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“Jaxon? Did something happen?” He’s the only one not accounted for. The only one they’d speak to me so directly about.
“No,” Daisy says quickly. “He’s fine. He and Asher are in LA and worried, but we let them know you’re all safe.”
“What is it?” But I already know. I’m just hoping I’m wrong.
“It’s Dell, sweetheart.” Goldy gets up and crosses the room. She kneels before me and grips my hands in hers. “He’s been found alive and well. Grant says the sheriff and his deputies surrounded Dell once he was back in town and told him they’ll arrest him on sight if he ever comes here again. They’ve also created a restraining order to make sure he never gets close to you again. It’s not a guarantee, but Grant said Dell went white as a ghost.”
Relief washes through me. I never want to see Dell again, but I also don’t want him dead. “I’m glad he’s okay.”
“Oh.” Goldy’s brow creases. “I thought you’d be upset. If he’s made it out of the forest, he might be back for more money.”
My sisters don’t know Dell the way I do, but it’s still more than a little surprising to learn they thought I’d rather hear he’s dead. “Dell doesn’t deserve to die. And if he shows up again, I’ll just tell him he’s not getting any money from me. He’s got nothing to hold over my head anymore.” And I no longer feel like I owe him anything. I look at Dani. “Unless you think a low-level criminal and con artist deserves to die?”
“Don’t look at me like that.” She rolls her eyes. “I don’t class you in the same group as Dell. Not even close. You were a kid and, as soon as you realized you’d hurt someone, you stopped.”
“What are you talking about?” Goldy’s still gripping my hands.
Dani gives me a reassuring smile. “You should tell them.”
“And you?” I meet Clover’s gaze and brace myself.
“What Dani said.” Clover’s eyes drift closed.
“But I don’t feel bad about the people I conned in Vegas. They were assholes.”
Goldy gasps, but I ignore her. Clover is the one who hated our dad the most for his cons.
It appears to take a lot of energy for her to open her eyes and look at me. “From what you told us, those people don’t deserve to have their money back. I’m paying back the people Dad conned here because I believe they didn’t deserve to lose their money, and I was a party to that loss.”
“But you aren’t taking any of Dad’s money. You think everything he touched is tainted.” Even me? I manage not to ask the question.
“Because it’s what I want to do. I don’t need that money and I’d rather give it away. I won’t judge you for your choices, Honey. Not unless you’re actively hurting someone.”
This feels way too easy. “You wouldn’t have forgiven Dad, not even if he gave up conning people.” I’m looking at Clover when I say this, because she’s the one who’s angriest at Dad. Also, because I’m afraid to see the reactions of my other sisters.
“Probably not.” Her eyes drift slowly closed. “But you aren’t Dad. You didn’t trick me into hurting people. You didn’t leave and continue to mess with me by criticizing me, neglecting me, and causing drama between me and my sisters. None of us are perfect, Honey. We’ve all done things we regret.”
“She’s right,” Goldy says. “All of that. Plus, you’re our baby sister and we love you no matter what you do.”
“Even if you find out I’m the one who convinced Dad to make it a requirement of inheriting his money that we all live here together for a year?” I brace for their anger.
Goldy and Daisy stare at me, eyes wide, mouths agape. “But… Why?” Daisy asks.
“Because you all left.” I swipe at my eyes again. I don’t think I’ve cried this much in years. “You all had so much fun together as teenagers, and I couldn’t wait until I was old enough that you all noticed and included me. Before that happened, you all left. After everything that happened with Dad and then with Dell, I just wanted to find a place where I belonged and I thought, maybe if we were all together again, I could find it here.”
“So you convinced Dad to include in his will that we all have to live together for a year?” Goldy presses her lips together tight, and I can’t read her expression.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I realize now—”
“I’m not sorry.” Dani kicks her feet up on a coffee table and leans back. “I was broke and lost when I got the news about this place. I love it here, and I love this farm we’ve built together.”
“If it weren’t for us being forced to live together,” Goldy says. “I never would have told any of you about the books I write.”
“And I’d probably still be trying to make it as a fitness influencer and floundering.” Clover’s eyes are still closed and her words are little more than a whisper.
“I would definitely still be in New York working the wrong job,” Daisy says. “I hate that you kept this from us, because I hate to be manipulated, but I’m not sorry for the time I’ve had here.”
I stare at my sisters for a long, long moment. I have to be dreaming.
