Page 31 of Lost Trust

I never doubted that she loved me. Not once. But after Dad left, it was like she had lost more than her husband. She’d lost her anchor. And ever since, she’s been drifting from one thing to the next, always searching for the same sense of stability she once had with him.

I don’t hold that against her. I couldn’t. She’s my mother, and despite everything, I love my crazy, complicated mom.

I just learned early on that loving someone and being able to rely on them aren’t always the same thing, and I hate that my son is now going to have to learn that same lesson.

Charli gestures toward the other man. “And this is my dad, Albert.”

Albert smiles and holds out his hand. “Welcome to Wildhaven, Marina.”

“Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

“That it is.”

Behind me, Ryder has gone completely quiet.

I look down.

He’s staring at Evelyn, and she notices too.

“Well, hello there, handsome,” she says sweetly.

Ryder peeks around my leg.

“This is my son, Ryder.”

Evelyn’s smile grows. “Well, Ryder, are you hungry?”

His head pops up immediately. “Yes, ma’am.”

I bite back a laugh.

“Well, that’s convenient,” Evelyn says. “I just took a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.”

Ryder glances up at me with enormous blue eyes. “Mommy?”

“You can have a cookie.”

He immediately hops around and takes Evelyn’s extended hand.

“A warm cookie and a cold glass of milk, coming right up.”

Earl follows them, whispering that he’ll sneak Ryder two cookies.

Everyone laughs.

“Well,” Albert says, “looks like he’s already settled in.”

Bryce chuckles as he pulls our bags from the truck.

Albert reaches for them. “I’ll take these upstairs.”

“Oh, you don’t have to—” I begin.

“Nonsense.” He takes the bags easily.

“Where are we putting them?” he asks Charli.

“In my old room.”