Page 6 of Take Me to the Valley

Cody pauses and doesn't answer right away, but I know he heard me.

“How did you find out?” he asks.

“I forget you seem to be immune to town gossip. Last night there was to an accident on Whiskey Mountain, car off the side of the road. Calista was the one who called it in and was there when I got on the scene. Yes, she is fine,” I say because I know it's his next question.

“Calista asked us to keep it quiet and we haven't had a chance to talk before you moved, Cody says. “With everyone there it didn't seem the right time to bring it up. She was hoping to have some space before the town found out. You know she hates being the center of attention.”

“A text works too, you know,” I say, but understand why he didn’t tell me and I’m not mad about it either.

“Come down for a drink any time and we can talk ‘til your little gossip heart is content,” he ribs at me.

“Fuck you,” I laugh.

“Is the person who was in the crash okay?” He asks his tone more serious.

“Yes. I just heard from the hospital that she will make a full recovery. Just banged up,” I say.

“Anyone we know?”

“Nope. Someone who was in town for the day and shouldn't have been driving the mountain at night. She was lucky your sister found her, or she could have sat there for a few hours before another car passed,” I say.

“I'm going to have a talk with Calista about driving that mountain at night.”

“Cody, she is older than you and was the one who taught you to drive that mountain,” I laugh.

“Well, still sneaking into town in the middle of the night? What was she thinking?”

“That she wanted a quiet night to settle in before you guy ascended on her,” I supply.

“You are sticking up for her now?”

“Just relaying what she said. How many times do you need a break from family? You guys are close, but sometimes it can also be a bit much.”

Growing up, I loved his big family because I wished I had brothers who were close like he does. My younger sister and I never really got along because of the large age gap between us. Once she graduated high school, she moved to Florida to work on cruise ships. Her visits home are infrequent and it’s been a while.

But at the same time, even though I was wishing to be part of Cody's family, they were overwhelming and a lot too. But I’m thankful they will be there for Skye and give her the grandparents she won't have now that my parents have passed.

“Don't have to tell me that. How many times have I enlisted you to help me hide from them growing up?”

“I think our makeshift tree fort is still there if you need a break,” I joke.

“Get back to writing jay walking tickets. Some of us have real work to do. See you at dinner this weekend,” he says.

Sitting there for a minute after I hang up with Cody, I wonder how I'm going to navigate their family dinners with my daughter and the weird feelings I have for his sister.

“Check your email,” Judy singsongs as she walks past my desk.

Shaking my head, I pull up my email, finally seeing a report from my guy. There’s been movement on the place we are watching. We have enough to bust this guy who is selling, but we are trying to hold off to find out who his supplier is and try to take them down, too.

It would be great to get them both, but we can't hold out forever.

Chapter 4

Calista

Today, I'm biting the bullet and heading to my parents’ house to visit my dad. The true reason I was asked to come home was because of his health decline and Mom needing help to take care of him.

The distillery my brothers started in town is taking off and they swear they need help there. But the reality is my parents are getting older and need help, so my brothers want me here to help with Mom and Dad, so they don't have too.

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