Page 55 of No Time for Traditions

Brittany let go, then grabbed her mother by the shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “Mama, I’m sorry for all the mean things I said to you.”

Sarah reached out and stroked Brittany’s cheek. “That’s okay. I understand why you were so upset.”

“Thank you.” Brittany smiled. “Is Daddy here?”

“He’s off in the woods someplace. Why? Did you say mean things to him, too?”

Brittany laughed. “No, but I was mad at him, so I need to apologize.”

Sarah waved her hand dismissively. “Just ask the good Lord to forgive you. Your daddy will never know you were even mad.”

Brittany looked at Scott and smiled. Scott gave her a smirk.

“Listen, Mama.” She turned back to Sarah. “I’ll catch up with you and Daddy again tonight. I just had to apologize before I go.”

“You’re not going back to New York, are you?”

“No, I’m going to find Greg.”

Sarah smiled. “Take all the time you need.”

Brittany and Scott left Barnes Farm and Land and climbed back in his truck.

“All right, brother. It’s time. Take me to Greg’s house.”

Scott smiled, started the engine, and pulled back onto the main road.

As they drove, Brittany played out in her mind several scenarios of how Greg might react to seeing her and what she would say, but this only increased her nerves, so she rolled down her window and tried to focus on the surrounding land. She didn’t think anything of it when they turned onto the county road their family lived on. It led to a larger highway, and was often used as a cut-through. But then Scott slowed and turned into Grandpa Barnes’s driveway. Or rather, his former driveway.

Scott parked the car in front of the farmhouse.

“Why are we stopping here?”

“I need to do something before we go to Greg’s.”

“I thought it was already sold.”

“It is.”

“But the new owners might not want us—”

“Shhh.”

Brittany scowled at Scott. “Did you just shush me?”

He hopped out of the truck, paying her no attention. “Come on.”

Brittany rolled her eyes and followed her brother. Knowing Scott, he’d thought of some family heirloom they left behind. But no matter what he wanted or who lived here now, Brittany found it rather rude to pull up like it was still their house.

Scott went straight for the porch, and Brittany followed from a safe distance, her eyes darting all around the house, looking for any motion. She kept her hands in her pockets as if trying not to disturb anything. Or anyone, for that matter. Everyone in the South had a gun, and when they weren’t used for hunting, they were used to scare off trespassers.

Brittany stood behind Scott, thankful for his tall frame. He knocked on the door. She closed her eyes, mumbled a silent prayer, and hoped to not meet her Maker anytime soon.

A moment later, the door opened. Brittany kept her eyes closed, waiting to hear whether they’d be welcomed or run off, but the voice she heard was unexpectedly familiar.

“Brittany?”

Brittany opened her eyes. “Greg? What are you doing here?”

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