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“You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. I did want to see you. I just didn’t know how to reach out and tell you that because I was so ashamed of losing your money.”
“Oh, sweetie, that wasn’t your fault,” her mom said, wrapping her arms around her.
“We never blamed you or were upset with you,” her father told her gruffly.
“I hate that you thought we were,” her mom said. “And we didn’t want you to know how bad things were because we didn’t want you to feel awful.”
“Plus, we were ashamed.” Her father dropped his head and Faith reached over to hug him.
“I guess we’re all at fault. No more, though. I missed you guys so much. All of you.”
“Anyway, the shop failing had nothing to do with you. It was all Matt’s fault,” her father said. “Asshole.”
“What do you mean? Matt isn’t an asshole.”
“He is, Faith,” Rod, her second oldest brother said as he and Brett walked up to them.
Brett nodded. “A complete dick. We’d give him a hiding if he’d fight like a man, but he runs away when he sees us coming.”
She was aware of Reuben walking toward her; he had set Eloise down somewhere.
“There you are,” her grandpa said, frowning at him. “What sort of car is that you’re driving?”
“A rental,” Reuben said smoothly, sitting across from her.
Grandpa Jake grunted. “You’re a city boy.”
“I am.”
“You think you can take care of our Faith?”
She groaned at her Grandpa’s questions.
Reuben met her gaze, looking unfazed. “I can, and I will.”
“How’s that?” Grandpa Jake asked.
“By destroying anyone who harms her.”
Everyone gaped at Reuben.
Grandpa Jake nodded. “You’ll do. Better than that other weasel.”
“You’re talking about Matt?” Reuben asked.
“Yes, the asshole stole all the money from Faith’s shop,” Brett said.
“What are you talking about? No, the shop just went bankrupt.”
“Yeah? Then how come he’s got so much cash to wave about?” Lance said, coming up behind Reuben. “Him and Shelby.”
“What?” she asked. “My nemesisisis, Shelby Colby-Dolby?”
Her family didn’t blink at her mispronunciation of nemesis. They were used to her Little peeking out.
“It’s just Shelby Colby now. She’s separated from Bart. Matt started living with her a few months ago,” Brett said.
“But it wouldn’t surprise me if they were together earlier than that,” Rod added.
