Page 103 of Broken Skulls

I place the little gift I brought for Lily beside my plate, then I reach over to shake his hand. “I’m … I’m Elizabeth. It’s nice to meet you,” I tell him.

“Oh, I’ve heard all about you.”

I try to pull my hand away, but he holds it tight. “My granddaughter told me you were beautiful, but wow, just wow.”

Jacob taps the older man on the shoulder. “Keep your hands off my woman, old man.”

Ray kisses my hand before releasing me. He stands and hugs Jacob, patting him gruffly on the back. “Jacob. It’s nice to see you, brother.”

Kelsie takes my hand in hers. “Jacob says he’s going to take you out to the shooting range later. I’ve been trying to get Lexie to learn. Maybe if she sees you giving it a go, she’ll finally give in.”

I glance around the room. “Is she here?”

“No, but Tank is picking her up. They should be here soon.”

Tank walks in the front door as if her saying his name summoned him. When he sees me, his shoulders fall.

My head drops. I shouldn’t be here. I don’t belong.

Kelsie leans close and whispers in my ear. “He’ll get used to it.”

I’m not so sure about that.

Lexie pushes past him and makes a beeline straight for me. “I’m so happy you and Jacob are here.” She hugs me around the neck.

Everyone in the room stops what they’re doing to watch us, a look of surprise on their faces.

I pat her back. “I’m happy to see you too,” I tell her honestly.

She sits down on the other side of me.

“I was going to ask if I could spend the night at your house tomorrow. There’s a big party, and …” She lets her words trail off.

My house?

Jacob squeezes my shoulder, now standing behind us. He answers for me. “You can absolutely stay atourhouse tomorrow night.”

She stands up and gives him a quick hug. “Thank you,” she says, and then she sits back down and hugs me again.

This is the huggiest bunch of people I’ve ever met, but I can’t say that I mind. It’s been nice.

The rest of the meal goes off without a hitch. Dan and Lily are wonderful hosts. There are lots of stories told and a lot of laughter. Jacob looks across the table at me and smiles. He looks so happy, it warms my heart.

Everyone helps in the clean up here too, which is nice.

I stop Lily as she’s clearing some plates from the table. “This is for you,” I tell her, handing her the little box.

“For me?” Her entire face lights up.

Jacob grabs the dishes from her hands, taking them out to the kitchen.

As soon as she opens the box, she begins to cry.

“I’m sorry I lost the other one, and I know this won’t replace it, but …”

She cuts me off, strangling me in a hug. “Thank you, Elizabeth. It’s wonderful. I’m going to hang it in my kitchen window. It will remind me of all of us who followed the dragonfly.”

“I … I didn’t follow it,” I whisper.

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