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May comes up beside me. “What’s going on?”
I tell her what I just told Hunter, who says nothing. He has a look of pain in his dark eyes. Why?
May’s head falls, and tears fill her eyes. She turns to Hunter, who opens his arms for her, and she sobs into his chest.
What did I say?
“What’s going on? Who is he?” I take the photo from Hunter and study the face again. Those same kind eyes, that dark hair, and a grin any girl would fall for.
Hunter clears his throat. “His name is Nash...” He pauses. I register the name. Nash. “He was your older brother.”
My eyes drop to the picture again. A lump forms in my throat. My brother. Then something else clicks as I remember everything Hunter has filled me in on since we met.
“He’s the one who died,” I state, my voice trembling.
Hunter nods, a glaze coming over his eyes. In seconds, it turns to anger. “I’m sorry, May,” he whispers, and she gently pushes away from him.
Her splotchy and red face tilts up to his. “You had no idea what was going on. It’s not your fault. I blame myself for sending him to her and putting them on your father’s radar.” Her voice shakes with each word.
Hunter gently wipes away fresh tears that keep falling.
A wetness hits my cheeks, and I quickly swipe my tears away. I have no right to be upset. I didn’t know Nash like they did. I knew him for a very short time, but I remember certain things about him—that cheesy smile, his booming laughter at his silly jokes, and his caring attitude toward not only me but others. He always made sure that all the ladies at the diner I was working at got to their cars or the bus safely. He was a pure gentleman.
“Do you know who killed him?” I blurt out, not really thinking of the consequences.
Both faces look my way. The way Hunter stares me down tells me I shouldn’t have asked.
May comes toward me, placing her arms around me. “My girl, I don’t know the details. All I know is that he’s gone. He had big plans to change things.” May steps back and continues, “He sent me a letter telling me that he’d found you.”
“He what?” Hunter interjects, his eyes wide as he looks at May.
She waves him off, and his mouth quickly shuts. “Yes, he sent me a letter. Come sit down, and I’ll tell you all I know.”
I follow her to the table, and then she disappears down the hallway.
“You know something, don’t you?” I hiss at Hunter.
His eyes narrow. “It’s not your concern.”
“It is my concern when it comes to my family and me.”
“I’ll fill you in later,” he grits out through clenched teeth while quickly glancing over his shoulder.
I glare at him, squeezing my hands into fists to refrain from slapping him clear across the face. Damn, he frustrates me with all his secrets. Secret this and secret that. I grind my teeth together.
May joins us at the dining table and places a small box in front of her. Hunter sits at the end of the table with May and me on either side. “I was hoping to wait until we got talking some more, but I guess now is as good a time as any.” She takes a deep breath, then looks at me. “You said you knew Nash’s face.”
I nod.
“It was about eighteen months to two years ago that I told him about you and your sisters. He deserved to know. I knew he was nothing like his father. Let’s just say he wasn’t very happy with me, knowing he had more family out there that he would never get to meet.” Her hand comes up, wiping tears off her cheeks.
I reach across the table for her hand, and she takes it. Peace floods through me.
Hunter’s hand rests on her shoulder. “You did what you had to, May,” he says gently.
“I know I did. Still doesn’t help the feelings I have of blame. I blame myself for Nash’s death.” I go to open my mouth, as does Hunter, but May holds up her free hand. “Nothing either of you say will change my mind, so don’t, please.”
She releases my hand and opens the box in front of her. It’s an old white cardboard thing with different kinds of flowers painted on it. After removing the lid, she sets it aside, pulls out a picture, and hands it to me.
