Page 11 of Hyde

“You better take that to the grave with you,” I respond as I finish up slicing the ham.

“You’re not eating the ham in there, are you, Hyde?” Flint calls out just as I’m chewing on an odd-shaped piece.

“Granny, remember the time you let Liam and me eat dessert first?” Sean asks, running into the kitchen with his cheeks all red like he’s trying to hold onto his temper. “Finn and Aiden said I’m making it up.”

Holding her finger over her lips, Bree stops what she’s doing to break a brownie in half and gives it to him as she whispers in his ear. As the treat disappears, his eyes widen and he looks guilty. “I forgot.”

He turns to run back to the great room. “Never mind. I was wrong,” he calls out around the sweet in his mouth.

“A secret’s only as strong as the people who share it.” I shake my head at her.

“He’s young, he’ll get there.”

“Still doing theeat dessert firstthing sometimes, huh?”

“The nice part of being my age, is having ice cream for dinner if I choose to,” Bree answers with a little smile. “Come on, we better get the food on.”

Tonight, dinner is more relaxed, thanks to the presence of Royce’s four boys, but even with them around, everyone seems focused on telling stories that center around me. There’s no escaping it, so I just sit back and laugh, and occasionally defend myself when Flint’s exaggerations go a bit far.

“I’m coming back, Mama Bear,” I promise her for the dozenth time, finally getting up to kneel next to her chair and hug her when she returns with dessert. “You two are the best parents I could have hoped for. I’ll check in with you regularly.”

“I love you, Joseph,” she gushes. And I cringe at the name only some of the Ol’ Ladies call me.

“Gonna hold you to that.” Flint’s voice is deeper and rough nowadays.

Last summer, Bree all but held a gun to him to get him to a doctor—only to confirm what they suspected. We were all relieved that the tumor in his throat was still considered stage one and removed endoscopically.

Besides the tumor, him getting a trike, was a wake-up call for all of us. That Flint’s age and lifestyle were catching up with him; as ours would catch up with us all one day, was eye opening. Living this lifestyle isn’t easy, and our bodies pay for the abuse we heapon it, day after day. When I see him putting pressure on this arthritic thumb joint, I wonder how long it will be before Bree convinces him to see another specialist.

I’d never put this weight on anyone, but Flint’s health issues were what stirred up my desire to set out and see the rest of the country. Because if I didn’t do it now, would I ever? I figure that by leaving now, I’ll be back in a couple of years and be around when Flint and Bree really need me.

That’s the plan, at any rate.

Part Two

Four years later

Chapter 1

Leslee

“Angel?”

“Yeah, Dad?” I call from the back of his woodshop, and let out a sigh, wishing I was further along with the carving.

“You wanna go for a ride?”

“Have I ever said no?” I retort to his question, then wait a second to mouth the words I know he’s going to say next.

“Clean up the work bench and put my tools away.” His orders come out, almost on cue.

Exhaling, I blow away the shavings on the piece in front of me and examine it for any flaws before I start to gather his tools.

I swear, Dad loves these things as much as he loves Xander and me. Smiling to myself, I know with absolute certainty, that he loves Mom even more, and that’s the most important thing.

He’s waiting on his bike when I walk out of the converted barn; my jacket and helmet are dangling from one of his large hands, saving me a trip inside the house. I pair my phone with the helmet but wait until we’re on the road before I say anything.

“What’s in the saddlebags?”

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