Page 29 of Unbearable

Everything shifted when my mother passed away. But even through the heartbreak, my father became incredibly intentional about spending quality time with us. Balancing work and home life effortlessly, though I now realize it must have been far from easy for him. He just did a good job making it look easy.

My mother was the one who put the tradition in place. Amid the chaos of sports games, activities, recitals, and concerts involving four children, Sundays were our sanctuary, a day reserved for family bonding, no exceptions.

I vividly recall the first Sunday after my mother’s accident. My brothers and I had assumed we wouldn’t be having a big family dinner as we usually would. Yet, despite his grief, my father rallied, cooking up a pot of his famous chili, and we sat down together. We have continued the tradition ever since.

Even after I left for college, and Sawyer’s career in the NFL took him away from Woodstone, we occasionally joined via FaceTime, even if only briefly, to maintain that connection.

After pulling up to the ranch house, I unbuckled Gracie from her booster seat. The ranch house looked exactly as I remembered as a kid. My heart ached, remembering mymother on the front porch waving goodbye to us as the school bus showed up.

Gracie dashed inside, greeting my dad with a warm hug. “Hi, Papa!”

“Hey there, sweet girl. How’s your weekend with Aunt Dotty going?” he asked her.

“It’s been amazing! We watched movies, painted our nails, did face masks, and she helped me ride my bike without training wheels!” Gracie beamed, recounting our weekend adventures.

“Sounds like a lot of fun.” My father enveloped me in a hug, planting a kiss on the top of my head.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Hey, Dotty. Good to have you here,” he said as we walked inside.

We all convened in the living room. There was a pot of chili on the stove that put a smile on my face. Colt walked through the front doors, and Gracie rushed into his arms.

“Uncle Colt! I missed you!”

“How’s my favorite girl?” Colt pulled her up in his arms.

“I’m so good. Auntie and I have had so much fun. How’s my uncle?”

“Oh, not your favorite uncle, huh?” He laughed.

“I have lots of uncles, and Uncle Sawyer gets me lots of presents, but I think you both tie for first place,” Gracie replied with a giggle.

“Don’t tell Trent,” my dad said.

“I’ll take a tie for first place,” Colt said with a grin.

While Dorian and I shared a unique twin bond, Colt and I had a different connection. We understood each other well, both being reserved in our own ways—me, outspoken, and him, more introspective.

“Hey, Dotty. How’s the cabin?” He gave my shoulder a squeeze.

“Cabin is good. Everything is moving along. We are doing the roof next weekend if you are free. I pay in beer and pizza.” I nudged his shoulder.

“I’m off duty, so I’ll be there.”

Colt joined the police academy right after graduation, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to becoming a detective—a goal he achieved with unwavering determination.

“We’d love to have you,” I said as a timer went off.

My dad asked me to pull the cornbread out of the oven as a knock sounded at the front door.

After a moment he called out, “Dotty… it’s for you.” His tone suddenly serious, reverberating through the room and sending a chill down my spine.

Colt sprang to his feet before I could fully grasp the situation.

“Gracie, could you work on your puzzle for a few minutes or put something on the TV?” I asked, handing her the remote as I made my way to the front door.

At the threshold stood a teenage girl holding a bouquet of lilies, as she faced two stern-looking men.

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