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Saylor turned and smiled at him. “Come on then, Breck. Help me get the food set out.”

Cassie sank onto the sofa beside her sister. The loyal ancient mutt known as Angus the Dog slept soundly in a ball on the corner of the couch. Cassie absently scratched his ears.

“Where’s Dad?” she asked.

“He’s out back with Uncle Chase,” Cadence said. She glanced my way as I took a seat in an overstuffed armchair.

“Did you guys talk to Dalton at the funeral?” Cadence asked and then made a face. “I didn’t know what to say to him. I just mumbled “I’m sorry” and wandered away like an idiot.”

“I’m sure he appreciated that you were there,” Cassie assured her.

Cadence was still frowning. “This just sucks. They’re supposed to be on their honeymoon right now.”

Angus the Dog let out a loud snore.

“I know,” Cassie said. She checked her watch. “Did anyone go visit Izzy today?”

Cadence nodded. “I know Uncle Creed and Aunt Truly were going. And Jacob went too. He wanted to see her again before he goes back to Portland tomorrow.”

“How is she?” I asked and listened carefully for the answer. Izzy’s appendectomy had been routine but two days later she’d developed an infection and required more surgery. She was still in the hospital. We’d stopped by yesterday to bring her a big pink teddy bear and even though she was far too old for stuffed animals she’d reached for the thing, hugging it with a smile. She looked so small and pale in that hospital bed. As for Deck, he was sick with worry and his wife Jenny confided that he had barely left the hospital since their daughter was admitted.

“Mom talked to Aunt Jenny this morning,” said Cadence. “Izzy’s fever is down and the doctors are hopeful she might be released in a day or two if there are no further complications.”

“Thank god,” I said, thinking that the family sure could use good news like that right now.

Saylor and Brecken laughed in the other room. My kid brother loved Saylor Gentry like a second mother. Back when we found ourselves in a rotten situation and sleeping in a car in the parking lot of Cord’s tattoo parlor, Saylor stepped in and opened her home to us until I could sort things out. It wasn’t hard to figure out why Cassie had such a heart of gold. Her mother was practically a saint in my book.

“Oh, did you hear the news about Derek yet?” Cadence said.

Cassie shook her head. “No. Do I want to?”

“A traffic camera confirmed that Hale was speeding when they crashed. He also ran a red light. Derek’s not off the hook. But his attorney thinks since it’s his first offense he may be able to plead it down to DUI, which is a hell of a lot better than vehicular manslaughter. No guarantees though.”

Cassie blew out a breath and leaned her head back. “Why did he do it? Why the hell didn’t he just let Kellan drive?”

Cadence shrugged. “I really don’t know. He’s not saying much these days. I did talk to Kel and he said he didn’t even realize Derek was drunk at the time. You know Derek, he was always a chronic partier, especially now that he lives over by the college. I’ve watched him knock back a bunch of drinks before and it never seems to have any effect on him.”

I was thinking of Derek and the look on his face when I took his bottle away.

“Does Derek have a drinking problem?” I asked.

Cadence was startled by the question. “No, of course not. He’s just a typical twenty-year-old idiot who doesn’t know his limits. I’ve run into more than a few of those.”

But Cassie was looking at me with curiosity. “Why do you ask?”

This probably wasn’t a good day to have an in depth discussion of Derek Gentry’s habits. “No reason. Just wondering.”

Saylor poked her head out of the kitchen and ordered us to come in and get some food. Cord and Chase were presumably still out back while we stood around in the Gentrys’ cheerful yellow kitchen and ate sandwiches while keeping the conversation limited to happier topics than funerals and DUI charges. Cadence would be leaving in a few weeks to return to school. She was following in her Uncle Chase’s footsteps and planned to be a teacher.

“Maybe you can teach at my school,” Brecken suggested. He had some mayo on his upper lip.

Cadence handed him a paper napkin. “I’m sure you’ll have graduated by the time I get my teaching credentials.”

Brecken wiped his mouth. “Are you sure you want to hang out with high school kids every day? I mean most of the guys I go to school with are raging assholes.”

“Language,” I reminded him. Breck rolled his eyes as usual.

Cadence snorted. “Don’t worry. I know how to handle assholes.”

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