Page 17 of Coty

She continues to talk fast. “I mean, I expected things to be different after they sent Harley away.” She glances over her shoulder at Hendrix. He watches the entire restaurant, but hasn’t moved. “They’re scaring me. I’ve never seen anyone in Jack’s family act like this. Even Everly is quiet. She shuts herself up in her room most of the time. I haven’t seen Logan in days. Nanny moves around like a zombie. Jack’s way too quiet.”

“Lily.” I grab her hand.

“What’s happening, Kayla? I know they’re upset about Harley, but nobody talks about her. Jack hasn’t told me where they took her. The whole family is hurting, and I don’t know how to help them.”

“You can’t fix this.”

“What? I don’t understand. Do you know what’s going on?”

Of course, she doesn’t understand, and I’m a horrible friend. She’s only been with Jack for a few months. She knows why we’re here today. She just doesn’t realize the impact of it all. I should have pulled her aside and prepared her for this.

“Look. This isn’t about Harley. Well, yeah. She’s probably part of it, but this happens every year. The McLeods are fine through Christmas. They celebrate it as big as they can every year. New Year’s is okay, but that’s where they all change. Losing Ariel destroyed them. Just knowing January eighteenth is close shuts the entire family down.”

It's been like this for fourteen years. I highly doubt it’ll ever change. How could it? This is something a family can’t get over. There’s no healing, not completely.

“Oh,” Lily says softly. “I knew it was going to be a hard day for them.”

“You just weren’t expecting it to bethishard.” It breaks my heart to witness their change every year.

“Yeah.” She nods.

And I officially hate myself now. Lily’s Jack’s ole’ lady. Just like the rest of the family, right before my eyes, my friend experiences the same emotional and mental shutdown as the McLeods do. You can’t be friends with them and not feel their pain. They love hard, and it’s forever. Death doesn’t stop their love. It wraps it in grief and cripples them this time of year.

Lily leans her head over until it touches mine. I wrap an arm around her. The only thing I can do in moments like this is to comfort them silently. Talking never helps. What can you say anyway?

The bell jingles again, bringing us back to this moment. The rest of the planning committee is here. Angie wastes no time escorting them to our table. Jack and several Viking Warriors walk in. Mack is even with them today. Hendrix joins them at a large round table in the front dining area. They have a perfect view of our table. I swear, Angie set it up this way on purpose. My eyes lock with Coty’s. Yep. My avoiding him has come to an end.

Lil Mama, Bankz’ mother, guides Nanny into a chair near the head of the table. She takes a seat next to Jack’s mother while his grandmother sits across from them.

“I thought the Pastor’s wife was planning this.” Nana looks around the table.

“She’s supposed to,” Nanny says softly, never lifting her head.

Lil Mama pulls out her phone. “Well, I’ll just call her.”

Nanny lays her hand over the phone. “No. Give her a little time.”

“The weather is bad. She’s probably just running late.” I smile at Lil Mama. She’s a bit irritated today. It’s best not to rile the little woman up.

“We could order while we wait for her,” Emily suggests.

Everyone nods in agreement. Angie was waiting at the edge of the counter for a cue from us. She hurries over to take our orders. Ten minutes after we order and have our drinks, Sherry Rhodes rushes through the front door, shaking the rain from her coat. Her youngest daughter, Finley, hurries in behind her. She’s drenched and looks upset.

Ms. Rhodes begins speaking before she reaches our table. “I’m so sorry I’m late.” She motions to her daughter without looking at her. “Finley had an accident. I had to go get her.”

Ms. Rhodes isn’t exactly a quiet-spoken woman. The entire dining room heard her. Several chairs scrape across the floor. Jack, Jay, and a few more Vikings hurry to our table.

“You okay, Finley?” Jack asks.

“Oh, she’s fine.” Ms. Rhodes huffs and flips her hand toward Finley.

Jay growls and steps between Finley and her mother. “What happened, Fin. Are you hurt?”

Ms. Rhodes steps around Jay. “Fin? Please don’t address my daughter so kindly. I’m sure her boyfriend wouldn’t appreciate it.”

Jake takes a breath so deep that it lifts his shoulders. We all hear it. Mack crosses his arms in front of Ms. Rhodes, drawing her attention.

“Mother,” Finley scolds. “Remember why we’re here.” She turns to Jay. “I’m okay. Something ran across the road in front of me. I swerved and ended up in the ditch.”

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