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Like Mom, I trust that Grandma can take the news, but I also know that Gramps has a history of shielding her from her son’s failure as a father, so I wonder how this will play out.
I’ve always considered Aiden to be the calmest one of all of us, but that did not hold true when I repeated the story to him. He turned, ready to run back to the house and I slapped my hand on his chest, trying to get him to stay. If I hadn’t tripped over my unlaced boots and landed on my butt in the snow, he would have easily gotten past me, and I am certain he would have killed my father.
Instead, he picks me up and makes sure I’m alright, giving me the precious seconds I need to talk him out of rushing off to find my sperm donor.
Shelby
This is when the trouble starts, I think to myself as Dylan sleeps on Aiden’s side of the bed. Instead of remaining isolated up here, like we had planned, Jace’s trip into town will simply invite trouble to our doorstep.
While I was able to protect Dylan from many of his father’sfaultsover the years, Julia was old enough to understand what was happening and has quietly shouldered the rage she has for him all this time. She knew how hard I tried to keep the peace, wanting to keep his parents active in their grandchildren’s lives that she kept silent, but now, I don’t imagine she’ll keep her disdain for him under wraps any longer.
*
The next morning, I wake up to snores coming from both sides of me. Aiden is on the floor below my side of the mattress and Dylan is still in bed with me. Sitting up, I awkwardly shift down to the bottom of the mattress to get up without disturbing either of them and go to relieve my bladder.
I get back to find Dylan has left and Aiden is still softly snoring, so I nudge him and make sure he moves to the bed before I head to the house. My son and father are sitting together at the dining table and from the expression on Dad’s face, he’s heard the actual news from the trip to town.
“Dylan, how are you feeling? Do you think you could go see what needs to be done in the barn?” I ask him and he nods, looking between us.
“Grandma’s out there, but I don’t want to tell her what I saw. Okay, Mom?”
“We’ll talk to her later, Dylan. We’re just going to work this out a bit now,” I say, dishing up some oatmeal and adding a scoop of honey. “Jace is at the gate, now, isn’t he?”
“Yes, with Rachel,” my son replies to the question I asked of my father, neither of them seem to be able to hide the grin pulling at their mouths and I sigh. I don’t know who I feel worse for right now, but everything being equal—Rachel has my sympathy.
Once my son leaves, Dad turns to me, looking a good ten years older than he did yesterday.
“My instinct is to sit down and speak to Jace, try to talk some sense into him. Julia, I just want Dylan to be wrong, but I know he isn’t.” Dad slaps his hand against the table. “But his father and I tried that when he didn’t contact the kids for over a year, that one time. He was so angry at us for interfering, it was another year before he showed up on your doorstep. I keep hoping he’s changed, that he’s learned from his mistakes; it’s just impossible for me to have any confidence in him anymore.”
Just then, Eddie emerges from the hallway that leads to the bedrooms, Sara is in the crook of his arm and Trisha’s right behind him. The smiles on both of their faces make them look satisfied, but embarrassed at the same time.
“It’s like living in the barracks all over again,” Eddie grumbles, his cheeks starting to turn red until he takes in my expression and his eyes darken. “Oh shit, what’s wrong?”
“Grab your breakfast, we’re trying to figure out how to handle something…”
“Jace? He… What the fuck actually happened in town?”
Eddie knows him as well as anyone in the family, and in some ways, possibly better.
Trisha had her hand on his back and starts to look frightened, as she undoubtedly feels him tense up. I hold my own palm out, letting her know there’s no immediate danger.
“I swear my stomach was churning like a motherfucker when he was talking last night, but I didn’t want to start anything.” He looks around as if suddenly wondering where Jace is, but Dad cuts him off, having them sit down.
Eddie looks like he’s about to hand Sara off to Trisha to free up his hands, but she backs away, walking around the table to sit facing my dad. I bite down on my smile, certain she did it so she can read his lips while knowing Eddie must keep his cool with Sara in his arms.
Once Dad starts relaying what little wedoknow, I get up to dish up bowls of oatmeal and glasses of water for the two of them; knowing that neither one are huge fans of the tea that’s replaced coffee every morning.
Chapter 13
With Thanksgiving behind us, we talked about getting back on the road, but the snowstorm that blew on and off for several weeks had different plans. Without the convenience of snowplows, we have no choice but to remain guests of Sheriff Carter’s for the time being.
Even though my heart is urging me to get home, my body and mind are exhausted. I can’t help thinking that the others must feel the same way and know that our best chance of surviving the journey ahead is by taking a break, especially when given an opportunity to do it within a community we can trust to watch our backs.
Giles seems to enjoy the company and quickly rotates the four us into the town’s guard duty—which is significantly easier than what we experienced on the road.
“Hey, man,” Reese says, opening the door to the Adams’ home. “Thanks for stopping by. Blaine won’t admit it, but his back is in bad shape from that fall he took the other day and I want to get the new room for Peaches set up today.”
“I heard she’s coming home,” I say with a grin. “That’s great news.”
