Page 96 of The Hardest Part

“Yeah, babe.” Emily looked a little peaked. “You okay?”

“What do you think? I’ve only been cooking since five o’clock this morning.”

Thanksgiving at the ranch. Despite the loss of his mother, Jake had so much to be thankful for. They all did.

“Wait, Billy.” She placed a casserole dish in each hand. “Okay, I think that’s everything.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, c’mon.”

They followed her into the kitchen, where Arien, Grams, Shiloh, and his mother-in-law prepared the feast while sipping on Melinda’s hard apple cider. The stuff was potent, too. It could grow hair on your chest.

Well, not exactly.

“Ladies, you’re all beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving. Where do you want these?”

“Here, honey.” Grams kissed his cheek. “I made you some room.”

Jake relieved himself of six aluminum pans, and Billy dropped off two casserole dishes.

“I guess we’ll leave y’all to it.” He waved to the ladies, laid a smooch on his wife, and then he and his brother got out of the kitchen.

The living room looked like a daddy daycare. Matthew Brooks had Benjamin playing with blocks on the floor at his feet. Griffin entertained eight-month-old Jaxson on his lap, while the twins napped on Tanner and Kellan.

A childless Justin looked up at him, and pursing his lip, he shrugged.

“Dad, what the fuck did you do?” Billy’s hand covered his mouth, no doubt concealing his hanging jaw.

“He cut all that glorious hair off, that’s what he fuckin’ did.” And judging by the pout, his father’s husband wasn’t at all happy about it.

“Why?” Jake asked, even though he knew.You miss her.

“It was time. I’m almost fifty.” Victor ran his fingers through his newly shorn scalp. Short on the sides, he still had some length on top. “Besides, I only kept it long for your mother.”

“What about me?” Justin protested.

“I didn’t think it mattered to you.”

“It did.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“I’m sorry. Shall I grow it back?”

“Yes.”

Kim came waltzing through on her way to the dining room. “I’ll never understand why y’all think it’s a good idea to cut off your hair.”

“I ain’t cuttin’ mine.” Billy held onto his chest-length mane as if it might disappear.

“Smart boy,” their mother-in-law said over her shoulder. “Your wife would never forgive you if you did.”

Noted.

Not that Jake had any intentions of cutting his, either. Hair is sacred, a symbol of strength and pride. Cutting it is a sign of grief and mourning.

“Ems,” Arien called out from the kitchen. “What’s the matter?”

Holding both hands over her mouth, she tore through the living room.

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