Page 54 of Reckoning

Before Roger could say goodbye, she was out the door. He was trying to digest what she’d told him, still holding a fork and his paper plate, without remembering what he’d been about to do.

* * *

For Briar, home had always had a feeling of confinement. Leaving the house was like being let out of lockdown.

Going to Tate’s house was her safe place—the place where she always felt welcome. There, she was accepted without conditions, and she was loved—and this evening was no exception. The bonus tonight was her dad’s car.

Every day, a little bit more of Star Ridge was being put back together. As she was driving across town, she noticed Barney’s, the only fast-food place in town, was open again. A positive sign.

As soon as traffic cleared, she turned right and headed down Anderson Road to the Bandy house. A few blocks farther, she pulled up and parked behind Abel’s work truck, dropped the keys in her purse as she got out, then went up the porch steps and knocked.

Tate opened the door. “About time you got here,” he said, smiling.

“Did you miss me?” she asked, as he closed the door behind her.

“Like crazy,” he said. Moments later, his mouth was on her lips, and for a heartbeat, the world stood still. Then he let her go. “We waited supper for you. Hope you’re hungry.”

“I will always be hungry for your mama’s cooking, and I have stuff to tell you.”

He frowned. “Bad news, or good news?”

She shrugged. “It all depends on how I choose to look at it.”

At that point, Lilith came into the room, smiling and wiping her hands on her apron.

“Welcome to this house, sugar. We’re about to eat, and I set a place for you,” Lilith said.

“Thank you. It was a long day on the job, and I’m starved. I should feel guilty for letting you feed me like a stray cat, but I don’t. You always make me feel welcome.”

“Because you are,” Lilith said, and led the way back to the dining table.

Tate pulled out a chair for Briar, then sat down beside her.

“Good thing you got here when you did,” Abel said, then gave her a quick wink. “I thought I was going to have to wrestle someone for my supper.”

Briar burst out laughing, and the meal began with good food, wild stories, and better company, until the meal ended.

“So, how is the work going at your house?” Abel asked.

“Good…or, as good as can be expected, considering ordering delays and different work crews on the job at the same time. But we can’t be picky. So many people in town need the same help. I’ve seen roofing crews from as far away as Springfield and St. Louis here,” she said.

Tate was watching her without speaking, because he already knew her mother had come and gone and wasn’t coming back.

At that moment, Briar glanced up at him, saw that look in his eyes, and felt something breaking inside her.

Tate reached for her hand beneath the table and just held it. “You don’t have to say the words,” he whispered.

She lifted her chin. “Yes, I do. Pretending everything is okay is how my family got in this mess.” She took a sip of iced tea. “Over and above our wrecked house, my parents have just decided their marriage is wrecked too. They’re getting a divorce, and all I can say is ‘finally.’”

Abel nodded. “Sometimes that’s the best thing two people can do for each other. It’s better than being in a constant state of war.”

Lilith got up and walked behind Briar’s chair, then leaned over and hugged her.

“We’ll always be there for you, sweetheart. Between Tate and us, you’ll always have a place to call home.”

Briar took a deep, shaky breath, then exhaled like the weight of the world had just floated off her shoulders. “You do know I’m going to hold you to that,” she said.

Abel waved a fork in the air for attention. “Apple dumplings for dessert with ice cream if you want.”