“Workin’ a case,” Max says. “How’s things been?”
Liam and Max spend the next two hours talking, with me joining in where I can. We laugh, we talk, we eat and we drink. Well, they drink. I really can’t afford to have any more beer. By the time I leave, I feel like I’ve pieced just a touch of my family back together.
It feels good having Max home, and I can only pray that he can help Liam.
That just leaves Dad.
CHAPTER 10
NATE
“Swing me faster, Daddy,” Macy cries and I swing her in a full circle as fast as I’ll allow myself.
I hear Lena laughing behind me, and it’s probably the first time in a while things seem to be going okay. Granted, there are still a shitload of fights, but today, for some strange reason, we’ve been able to act like a family.
“How about we go out for lunch together?” Lena suggests as I set Macy on her feet.
I look down at my little girl with a smile. “What do you reckon, shorty?”
She squeals and claps her hands. “Yay!”
I take her hand and turn to Lena. “Where are we going?”
She shrugs. “How about the diner by the ocean?”
“Sounds good.”
We head over to the diner and order some lunch. The conversation seems to flow quite well and I can see Lena is making an effort. I can’t pick on her for that. I’ve asked her to try and she is, which means I am. It’s a two-way street.
“When’s your next race?” she asks, spooning salad into her mouth.
“Tomorrow, then two on the weekend.”
“Are you going out of town?”
I shake my head. “No, they’re all here. I go out of town in about a fortnight for a few races.”
She nods. “I’ve applied for a few jobs.”
I raise my eyes and smile at her. “That’s good Lena, great actually.”
“I’m going to try harder, Nate. I swear.”
I keep my smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”
And I was.
Regardless of everything, Lena is my wife, and she isn’t a bad woman. I have to support her.
~*~*~*~
NATE
Avery: Hey, how r u?
Nate: Good. U?
Avery: I haven’t seen you for a few days?
Nate: Sorry, been busy.
Avery: Okay. Well, I just wanted to see how you were. I’m sorry about the other day with the pool. Kelly can be a little . . . controlling.
Nate: It’s no worries.
She doesn’t answer back and I flip my phone over, turning it onto silent. I shouldn’t feel bad abut texting Avery, but I do. I do because I can’t get her out of my head. It doesn’t matter how hard I try; she keeps popping up. It’s not fair on Lena or Macy for me to feel this kind of confusion over another woman. The best thing I can do is not talk to her, and maybe distance the friendship.
She’s dangerous for me.
I feel it with everything I am.
CHAPTER 11
AVERY
I sit on the bench and curl my legs up beneath me, and I just stare. The ocean is beautiful, and it was Momma’s favorite place. It only seems logical that I would come here every year on the anniversary of her disappearance and think about her. A tear slides down my cheek, and then another. I close my eyes and smile at the precious few memories I have of her, my favorite one being the time she brought our dog, Benny, home.
“Avie, baby,” my momma calls. “I have a surprise for you.”
I skip out of my room, my long pigtails flying around beside me as I go. My momma is in the kitchen, a box in her hand. She’s smiling big and bright, her face flushed with happiness.
“What is it?” I ask, leaning up on my tiptoes to try and catch a look.
“Guess!” She laughs.
“Is it a cake?”
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “You and cake. No, it’s not food.”
“Is it a toy?”
She shakes her head again, hardly containing her excitement.
“Is it a plant?”
Suddenly the box rattles and I scream, leaping back. Then I hear the soft yapping of a puppy.
“Momma!” I scream. “It can’t be.”
“It can,” she says, kneeling and putting the box on the floor. She opens the lid and a tiny puppy comes barreling out.
“Oh my God!” I cry, scooping the tiny animal into my arms. It smothers my face in little licks.
“Happy Birthday, baby girl. I know it’s early but I couldn’t resist.”
“Is it a boy or a girl?” I gush.
“He’s a boy.”
“We have to name him.”
She smiles and wraps an arm around me, patting the puppy.
“I kind of already thought of one.”
I look up at her. “What is it?”
“Benny.”
I grin, big and wide. “Like our favorite song?”