Page 24 of Finding Redemption

Turning onto the dirt road by my brother’s house, I spot Andi waiting on the porch, waving wildly with the biggest grin. My heart beats wildly as the long-absent smile stretches across my face. I love this little girl. She’ll celebrate her tenth birthday in a few months and will soon outgrow all of this; I hate the thought.

“Uncle Walker!”

I blow my horn as I grab the game. “Andi girl.”

She leaps from the step, running toward me as I step from my Tahoe. She rounds the truck with her arms wide open, wrapping them around me for the biggest hug. She gives the best ones. Andi’s long, wavy brunette hair lays down her back. Her hazel eyes shine as bright as her smile.

“You brought it!” she yells.

“I told you I would.” I chuckle at her enthusiasm.

She takes me by the hand, tugging me toward the house. “I can’t wait to play it. I want to have some fun,” she murmurs.

“Why are you not having fun?”

“Momma and Poppa are grumpy. Like, getting on my nerves.” She rolls her eyes as she looks up at me.

Her face scrunches up as if she’s in pain. I frown. “Why’s that?” I get a pang in my stomach.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Something about it being too soon.”

I hesitate, bringing Andi to a halt. Her head whips around, staring at me as I run scenarios through my head. Surely, Ava isn’t getting cold feet. I’ll kill her if she hurts my baby brother. Okay, I won’t kill her but by God, she’ll get an earful.

I glance at my beautiful niece, who’s the spitting image of her father, attitude completely her mother. We can’t lose her. “I’m sure it’s just pre-wedding nerves, baby.”

She twists her hair in a knot. “Yeah, Poppa said she was nervous.”

I smile at Riley’s confidence in Ava, but now I’m worried. “Sounds like a bride to me.” I wink as the knot in my stomach tightens. I open the door, and Andi releases my hand and skips through. “Hey, folks,” I announce as we enter the house.

“We’re in the kitchen.” Ava’s voice echoes through.

Andi skips toward her mom. I check my phone before switching it off. “Hot date?” my little brother asks as I round the corner.

“Naw, just turning it off,” I answer, shoving it back in my pocket.

“How about you join us tonight? I was thinking of following Ava around the dance floor.” He winks at his bride-to-be.

“Yeah, maybe one dance,” she offers a tight smile, her lips pressed into a thin line. Something’s definitely going on.

“Sounds good.” I lean in to kiss my soon-to-be sister. “How you doin’? Has he drove you crazy yet?”

She eyes my baby brother out of the corner of her eye, and that pang returns. “He’s hangin’ by a thread.”

He smirks, narrowing his eyes at her. “I tied a knot at the end of the thread.”

“The hell you did.” She cocks her brow, and I’m beginning to think we’re not talking about the same thing.

I look from Riley to Ava and back, pulling my brows low. “What am I missing?”

“Nothing,” they answer in unison. The hair on my arm stands on end from the tension in the room.

“Okay,” I say softly. “What’s for dinner?”

“I’m manning the grill for some killer burgers. Care to join me?” Riley asks as he stands, circling the island on the other side of Ava.

“Toss me a beer and hand me the plate,” I say, gesturing to the plate Ava’s hovering over.

“Are we gonna play this game or what?” Andi asks with her hands on her hips.