Page 12 of Fragile Heart

I offer a smile and say, “Nice to meet you. I’m Brielle.”

He nods. “Aunt Emily said you’re Aunt Mel’s friend even though you’re staying with her and not Mel.” He frowns, his eyebrows furrowing, a line appearing between them. It’s so cute, I can’t help but smile again—without forcing it this time.

“Melissa doesn’t have a guest house,” Emily says, humor lighting her voice. “Brielle’s waiting until the fall to find her own house.”

The boy doesn’t say anything to that, his head tilting as he stares at me for a minute longer. Then he shrugs and drops Emily’s hand. He takes a couple steps away before picking one of the wildflowers blooming in the open valley. I let my smile dropaway, the fleeting moment of happiness already ebbing away from me.

The breeze picks up just as she steps onto the porch, pushing my scent away from us both, hiding my secret for a bit longer.

Thank. God.

She sits on the swinging bench seat, her eyes watchful as she focuses on Camden. I want to ask about him, but it seems insensitive.

“You can ask,” she says, like she can read my mind. I raise an eyebrow and play ignorant.

“Ask what?” I keep my voice light.

She cocks an eyebrow as she looks over at me. Camden grabs another flower before sprinting several feet away. “About him.”

I purse my lips, and she laughs.

“Or don’t. Just figured I could relieve your curiosity while Melissa’s busy. But you’re welcome to ask her about him, too, if you’d like. Just not around Ethan. It’s still…” Her lips twist, and she shrugs. “Just don’t ask about Camden in front of him.”

I tuck away that bit of information. “He was Brandon’s?”

I don’t know why that’s the question I start with.

“Yep,” Emily says.

“Do you normally watch him during the week?”

She shakes her head. “I’m third option,” she says, keeping her voice low enough the little boy doesn’t seem to hear her. “My mom’s first, then Joan. But Mom’s in Jackson with Dad today, and Joan had someone call out at the coffee house.”

She glances at me before focusing on Camden again, like she knows the scrutiny makes me uncomfortable.

Damn, it’s an adjustment being around an unbonded Alpha again. Especially now that I’m not suppressed. I run my fingers through my hair.

“And that setup only happens during fire season when Caleb’s getting called out with little notice. During the year,Caleb typically has an open schedule. I think he’s planning on taking on some more off season work this year when Camden starts school, but it hasn’t become family official.”

“Family official?” I ask.

“Meaning they’ve announced it to the family,” she offers. “Once something is family official, it’s the mark that they’re serious about whatever it is. Mom is…” She hums. “Not really sure there’s a term for it. But if you tell her something is happening, she’ll throw herself into it with everything she is. So we don’t mention things to her until we’re sure they’re happening. Family official.”

That made sense. I haven’t actually seen Lynn since moving back. But the woman I spent a decent chunk of time with that summer certainly didn’t give half of herself to a project. She was all or nothing. I don’t suppose time would have changed that, really.

Thinking of her reminds me of Ethan. Again. Nerves settle in my belly.

Will Emily ask about him this time?

I can’t quite manage to remember how to breathe as the silence stretches longer. Eventually, she shrugs.

Her voice is louder, carrying across the meadow when she says, “Anyway, Camden and I thought you might want some company.”

Camden glances up from the small bouquet he’s managed to gather, a mixture of yellow and white flowers pressed into his palm. He grins and starts toward us, the foraging forgotten.

As he gets to the stairs of the porch, he says, “Here.”

He holds out the flowers, a dimple flashing in his cheek as he smiles. I drop from the railing, landing on mostly solid legs, and cross the porch.

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