Page 41 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

Everyone laughed at that. Nina let her eyes roam over the people listening to her. The Dukes and their newer members, longtime friends who she could call on and they’d be there for her. The McAllisters, the Hecklers—they were all here. Everyone who meant anything to her. She sniffed back the tears.

“Mom had opinions, strong ones, but she loved louder than she argued.

“She gave me a childhood full of things she went without herself. I understand that more now than I did then. Children don’t always see the machinery behind the life they’re living. The early mornings, the careful budgeting, the quiet sacrifices that never got named. I see it now, Mom. I want you to know that. I see all of it.

“I am buying Circle Left, as most of you know. I want to say something about that because it matters to me, as this place meant so much to her. Nancy was her biggest champion and friend, as was Hank, so I’m buying it because this was somewhere she loved.”

She drew in another deep breath. Keep it together, Nina.

“Thank you all again for being here to help me celebrate Mom’s life, and Mom, I’ve got this now. You rest.”

People told her stories about Shirley Winters then, some she had known, others she hadn’t, and Nina cherished each one, as she did the glass of mulled wine that kept mysteriously refilling itself in her hand.

She was never alone for a single minute. Someone was always at her side. It was an occasion her mother would have loved.

“Anyone here know how to sing?” someone called out hours later.

“Nope,” Lynx the rock god said loudly. “Unless you want me to sing, Nina?”

He looked like his brother, with subtle differences. Finch was bigger, with harder edges now.

“I’m good. I’m sh-sure it would be like me going to someone’s house and them asking me to give them a facial,” she said. Were her words sounding a little slurred?

“It’s exactly like that,” he said with a straight face, when in fact, it couldn’t be more different.

She giggled, then clapped a hand over her mouth when it came out high-pitched.

“So, you and my brother were sharing a few looks earlier. Anything you want to tell me?” Lynx asked, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

“No, absolushly not.”

“Absolutely?” he teased her, but then the smile fell away. “I’m worried about him, Nina.”

“I know, but he’s home and safe,” she managed to get out slowly.

“Yes, and that makes it easier to cope when I have to leave here again, believe me,” Lynx said.

Nina staggered a little to the right as she tripped over her own feet.

“I’m getting you some water.”

“Good idea,” Nina said as she watched Lynx walk away.

She leaned back on the edge of a table and looked around her. “This is all for you, Mom,” she whispered.

“How are you getting home?”

Turning her head, she met Finch’s eyes. He’d been close, but not too close, all day.

“There are plenty of people about. One of them will take me. Or…” She raised a finger as he opened his mouth. “I’ll stay here, seeing ash—as—I’m the new owner.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “That was a big move.”

“Mom left me money.”

“Nice.”

Nina nodded. “She would be happy with this.” She waved a hand about, accidentally connecting with his chin. “Sorry.”