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Just then, my sister came out and threw her arms open. “It’s about time you showed up.”
I caught her up in a tight embrace. Kayla was the baby of the family, and she was pure sunshine and fire. Granted, when you teased her too much, she could be all vinegar. She had always given me unconditional love, even when I didn’t feel like I deserved it.
I pulled back and looked her up and down. “How are you feeling, Kay?”
Instantly, her happy demeanor turned to annoyance, and she pushed the center of my chest. “I don’t have cancer anymore.” She moved back toward the door and flung it open. “Noah is here, and he’s already done the cancer check for everyone,” she called inside. “So you don’t have to ask me when my last checkup was.”
Kayla had a right to feel annoyed about how protective my brothers and I tried to be. On the rare occasion that I called my brothers, asking them about Kayla was always my first question.
I followed her in and found my entire family in the family room, past the kitchen. My mother met me in the kitchen and gave me the kind of look that told me she was tired and worried. “Noah, I’m glad you’re back.”
I hugged her the same easy way I hugged Kayla. There was comfort in knowing that she loved me even if I didn’t deserve it. “Just here for a few days.”
My dad was propped up in a recliner. He turned, and our eyes met. Nervous energy pulsed through me.
He nodded. That was a sort of big deal, because it was my father. I nodded back, and he returned his attention to the television.
My brothers stood around him. McCrae waved at me and said, “Hey.” He worked as a police officer in Refuge Falls with Damon as his boss. I wasn’t sure how he managed Damon all the time.
Canyon nodded to me, but his eyes snapped back to Dad, as if he would have another heart attack at any moment. It was understandable; he’d been the head of search and rescue for the past two years since Dad had stepped down, so he was concerned with everyone’s safety.
Damon approached but didn’t attempt to hug me. He looked me up and down. “What hellhole were you in when we all tried to call you?” He had served in the military as well. All of my brothers had served for a couple years.
“Saudi desert,” I said.
“You weren’t accessible, were you?”
I shook my head. “Can’t talk about it, but you know that.”
He snorted. “Yeah, yeah.”
My youngest brother, Dylan, stepped toward me, catching my attention. He practiced law in Denver, and he was even worse at coming home than me. I was somewhat surprised to see him here. “Hey, bro.” He put his hand out.
I grinned and gave him our old handshake I’d taught him when we were younger.
Dylan laughed and then moved in for a hug. “Glad you’re here, because I’m leaving. I have court on Monday.”
I hugged him back, instantly annoyed. I’d just returned and he was already leaving? “You have court?”
Dylan flashed a smile and patted my shoulder a bit too hard. “That’s what attorneys do, bro. You would know what I do if you ever called.”
“I call,” I sputtered, though it had been a long time since I’d spoken to him. “Well, I call mom.”
He laughed. “Kidding. I don’t need more calls.” Then he paused. “But have you seen Ella? Man, I saw her at the hospital today, and she looks good. I was sorry to hear about her ex, but that’s the breaks, right?”
What the crap?
He turned away from me. “Mom, I have to go.”
“No, Dylan. Don’t go yet.” Mom followed him to the door, where he grabbed a duffel bag off the floor next to it.
“Sorry. I already had others covering my cases, but you know justice sleeps for no man.”
“Bye, Dylan!” Kayla chased after him for a hug.
Damon didn’t even look at the spectacle going on; he only kept his eyes on me. My other brothers and father didn’t react, either.
Canyon, looking tentative, sidled up next to me. “What’s up, bro?” He took a handful of nuts from a bowl on the counter and popped one in his mouth. He was the quiet, strong type. Always had been.
