Page 38 of An Endless Memory

Cali squealed. At least one of us was delighted.

The drive to the airport was short. The tiny airport was the size of the small grocery store in town and just outside of city limits. It had two whole hangars for airplanes, but it must be big enough for small private jets. It had to, being on the fringes of the oil and coal industry. Top execs like my dad flew in and out for business.

My phone blew up the entire way. Linda must’ve gotten a hold of everyone. This shitstorm of a weekend started early. There went my quiet Friday night.

My parents were waiting outside the doors of the airport. Dad was still dressed in his black slacks and pewter-gray dress shirt. He’d ditched the tie, and his salt-and-pepper hair was ruffled from the wind. Mom wore short pants with black-and-white Converse. She had a pair in every color. Her dark, curly hair was pulled back, and she looked more pensive than when she had been fretting over me moving.

I parked and got out to help them load the luggage, but Dad came around the hood and jerked me into a giant hug.

“How you doing, kiddo?”

The comfort of Dad’s hug seeped in. His cedar aftershave was the same he’d worn his whole life. I returned his hug. “I’m good, Dad. Really.”

“I don’t understand what my mother was thinking.” His expression clouded over. “Or my sister. We’ll see if we can get you out of this.”

I should be relieved Dad would use his legal resources to fight the trust, but my anxiousness grew. Could I enjoy being married to a nice, considerate guy for a little while longer?

“It’s fine.” I pulled away. “Eliot’s a good man. You’ll like him.”

Dad’s frown deepened at my sincerity.

Mom straightened from the other side of the car. She’d been bent in hugging and kissing her grandkids. “How can you know him well enough to say that?” She cast a worried look toward my dad.

“He’s the brother of my boss. His whole family lives in town, and I guess I have the same last name as them. I’m Lily Knight now.” For the next year anyway, the paperwork was still processing.

Dad’s brows drew together. “Knight? Does he have a brother named Alcott?”

“Cody? Yes.”

A wide smile spread across his face. “Well. That changes things.”

“West?” Mom wasn’t sold on Dad’s change of heart. I was just plain confused.

“If he’s anything like his brother, then our littlest girl might just be in very good hands.”

“You know Cody?” Of course he did. Cody worked in the oil industry, controlling wells all over Montana and who knew where else.

“King Oil has a deal with Knight’s Oil Wells. Come on, let’s go get something to eat.” He went around to load their suitcases in the back.

Several of the knots along my spine loosened.

“Mom, don’t we get cereal?” Cali asked.

“Grandma and Grandpa are taking us out,” I said, sliding into my seat.

She clapped her hands. My mom got into the back, wedging herself between the kids’ car seats.

“I’d like to talk to this young man,” Mom said when we were back on the road.

“Mom, he’s forty.” My stomach tightened. Don’t scare Eliot off yet. I’m in my honeymoon period.

“Can he meet us at the restaurant?” Dad asked.

“He lives in Buffalo Gully.”

“He’s not living with you?” Mom’s voice pitched up.

Crap. “Yes, but he still has the ranch. He’ll be commuting.”

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