Page 9 of A Wild Darkness

My dad’s eyes immediately drop while regret flashes across his face. Not because he didn’t visit, but because he worked so much back then. Grief nearly swallowed him whole. “You girls never told me that.”

I smile sadly. “You were busy surviving.”

Silence settles again.

Lux reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “You’re a good person, Stevie.”

I snort. “Because I rub graves in my free time?”

“Because you care,” she corrects. “And you give the pieces of art you create to your clients’ families. It’s a thoughtful gesture.”

My dad nods. “Your mother’s favorite thing about you, even though you were young, you always had such a kind and empathetic soul.”

I blink. “Thanks.”

He looks out the large bay window in front of us, lost somewhere years away. “You’re a lot like her.”

Emotion climbs unexpectedly into my throat, and I look away before anyone notices.

“Well,” Lux says, breaking the moment. “Maybe someday you’ll meet someone who appreciates what you do for a living. And who you have that in common with.”

I nearly choke, recalling a similar conversation with my cynical sister about her love life. “Weren’t we just having this conversation about you?”

“Yeah, and I was just like you. But then I found River, and now I know what it’s like to have someone who gets you,” she adds with a warm smile.

My sister is in love, and it’s changed her attitude about life.

Have I become the cynical one?

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” I force a grin, taking another sip. “And besides, special friends can fill that void,” I say, trying to be vague around my dad, about how I don’t want to commit to anything serious with anyone.

Lux and I share a light laugh at our dad’s reaction.

The tension between us dissolves instantly, just like it always does when we talk about difficult topics. That’s the thing about my family. We all carry grief. We have old wounds, but we bear them together. Maybe I’ll never understand crime the way Dad and Lux do, and maybe I won’t ever be completely fearless, but being the softer, stranger one is who I am.

CHAPTER THREE

STEVIE

“Absolutely not.”

Lux reaches for another slice of veggie pizza.

“You had four.” I push her hand away playfully. “The last one is mine.”

It’s the night after we had dinner with Dad for our mother’s birthday, and Lux and I are having a wine, pizza, and romance movie night before she and River leave for France.

“You counted?”

“Yeah. There were eight slices. Four for you and four for me.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

I lean over and try to grab the slice from her hand. “Give it to me.”

Lux quickly shoves a bite into her mouth.

“Unbelievable.” I roll my eyes.