Page 47 of You're My Person - For Always

Her rounded shoulders never moved. Ignoring everyone else in the room, he walked straight to her. Standing beside her, he tried to overhear the conversation, but Kenna wasn't saying anything.

She stared at her feet with the phone pressed to her ear. He couldn't tell how the call was going. Having dealt with his dad in prison and planning visitations, he was familiar with the emotions that a person goes through, but Kenna's dad wasn't just an inmate. He was on death row. The rules were different.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

She slowly lowered her arm and disconnected the call. White as a ghost, she swayed, catching herself on the back counter.

He grabbed her arm, steadying her. She looked up at him, barely any recognition in her eyes. Her lower lip trembled. He brought her to his chest, afraid she'd faint. She'd put all her energy into believing her dad wanted to see her. If, at the end, she was denied a visit, it would break her.

He cupped her head, absorbing the tremors rolling through her. The only sign that she was aware of him there was that she leaned into him, letting him support her.

Rebecca approached with her brows pinched. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. She needs a minute. Can you cover the bar?" he asked.

"Sure." Her eyes softened. "Take as much time as you need."

He guided Kenna through the kitchen, ignoring Lori's concerned look, and led her out the back door. Alone, he leanedagainst the building and lifted Kenna's face, needing to see more light in her eyes. The pain he'd witnessed killed him.

"Talk to me." He smoothed her hair out of her face.

The muscles in her throat convulsed. "Th-the judge granted River and me permission to visit with Dad on the twenty-eighth of this month." She grabbed onto his vest. "What day is it?"

"The fourteenth."

Her knees buckled. He scooped her up, holding her against him.

"Two weeks." She looked around wildly. "I need to find River."

"She's working at the campground."

Kenna frowned and looked at her phone. "I still have an hour until my lunch break." She gasped for air. "It's so far away."

"Breathe."

She looked at him. "What?"

"You're not breathing right."

"I can't." She swallowed. "I'm going to see my Dad."

He nodded. The shock was wearing off her.

Everyone had told her that her dad was dead. The one that turned out alive but sitting on death row. She could lose him at any moment. He held on to her. All she wanted to do was see him one more time.

"Oh, my God." She grabbed her throat. "What do I say? What is he going to say to me?"

"Sh." He rubbed her back. "You'll find out when you go. Right now, take the rest of the day off, and I'll walk you over to the campground. Then you can tell River."

"I can't leave Lori and Rebecca by themselves."

"Then, take your break now and talk to your sister." He motioned for her to go inside. "Let Lori know you'll be back at four o'clock."

She hurried inside, more in control of herself when she had something to do. He hoped a few minutes alone with River would calm her down. She was going to let her anxiety beat her up. There were two weeks until the visit—a lot could happen in prison during that time.

Kenna pushed through the back door. "Lori told me it's okay to take an early lunch." She grabbed his hand. "I'm going to find River."

It would take longer if he took her over there on his Harley. Instead, he grabbed her hand and headed toward the trail that led to the campground. There was no slowing down so she could keep up with his longer strides. Kenna jogged the whole way, making the walk in half the usual time.

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