Page 34 of Their Stormy Reunion

“How many chances does a parent get?” I asked, incredulous.

“With any judge but Stevenson? Three strikes and they’re out. But Stevenson… He always sends kids back unless there’s terrible abuse.”

“There have to be good judges,” I said, hoping to lift her spirits.

“Two. Abernathy’s one of the best, but he’s on vacation for two weeks. So yeah, Reagan’s going back to her mom. Again.”

“At least she’s not being abused, right?” I offered weakly.

Maddie’s eyes darkened. “Cheryl, her mom, has a new boyfriend. Two charges for domestic violence, both dropped before trial.”

“Think he threatened them?”

“I’d bet my tequila on it,” she muttered. “If I had any.”

I sighed. “No wonder you were drowning in tequila.”

“I’m sorry for dumping this on you,” she said, looking guilty. “You’ve got enough going on.”

“Maddie, you’re not dumping. You’re my best friend. This street goes both ways. But that’s not everything that’s going on, is it?”

She shook her head, her dark hair flying. “It seems like old home week around here, is all.”

“Why? Who else besides me is back in town?”

“Brady Beaumont,” she said.

I blinked, the name stirring a vague memory. Then it clicked. “Wasn’t he Beau’s twin brother? Didn’t he get kidnapped by his dad or something? I remember Mom and Dad talking about it when we were in middle school.”

“Bingo.”

I leaned forward, intrigued. “How long was he gone? Where was he?”

“Thirty years. Their dad took him to Alaska.”

“No shit.”

“Scout’s honor,” she said solemnly, holding up one finger. “Apparently, he goes by Kai Davies now—thought that was his real name. He was in Special Forces before some injury took him out. So Beau came home to see him.”

“Holy shit, Maddie. Beau’s back. But that’s wonderful,” I breathed. “When was the last time you talked to him? You two used to be inseparable.”

Maddie didn’t respond. Her dark brown eyes turned black.

“Mads? Talk to me.”

“I loved you to death. I adored my sisters. But Beau? Beau was my best friend in the whole world. But the day he left for boot camp? I never heard from him again.”

“That can’t be true.”

She didn’t say a word. Her pain filled the room, like a noxious gas.

“Oh Honey.” I hurled myself across the couch and pulled her into my arms. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Because it shouldn’t have mattered. We were just friends. And he needed to go. After everything he’d been through with his mom dying? He needed to go.”

I held her trembling body close, rocking her, stunned she wasn’t crying. Finally she pulled away.

“You should have told me,” I whispered. “I always leaned on you.”