Page 25 of Mercy Lake

I rubbed the back of my neck as Alexis took it on the chin. “This is—umm—a friend of the family.”

I had no right to feel some type of way about that description. Hell, I should have been glad to even be placed in that category instead ofcheating, lying ex-husband.But I couldn’t help the spike of regret that filtered through.

Austin contemplated before saying, “Is heyourfriend, mama?”

“Ahh, yes, from a long time ago.” It was soawkward.And I still couldn’t bring myself to care. I was in her presence. That was enough for me.

Then, Austin dropped the ultimate bomb, levelling us both to the ground. “You said my daddy used to be your friend. Is this my daddy?”

Alexis winced in mortification as her pallor turned a nasty pale.

“Oh my god,” she exclaimed. “I amsosorry. Austin, stop. We’re going to see Papa now. Say goodbye.”

“Bye.” Austin held out his hand like a grown up. I took hold, giving a firm shake, amusement sparking from his actions. “Hey, I gave you my name, so you have to give me yours. If you don’t, you’re a rude boy with no manners. Right, Mama?”

Alexis looked like she was having an aneurysm. This time, I couldn’t help the smile that stretched across my face. “Pleased to meet you, Austin. My name’s Owen.” His head tilted at that, thinking hard.

“Hey, I know that name. Aunty Ali said that—”

“Okayyyyy,” Alexis said, slapping a palm over Austin’s mouth. “Let’s leave Owen alone. I’m sure he’s very busy.”

“Not really,” I blurted.

Her brow furrowed with a beat of confusion before clearing. “Well, I’ll see you.”

I hope so.

The whole interaction had anticipation, and dare I say—hope—bubbling within me.

There was no daddy. And I also clocked that she wasn’t wearing a ring. Was it some sort of sign from a higher power? ’Cause I would readily bow down to whoever gave me the opportunity.

Chapter 14

ALEXIS

I was flustered, a damn nervous wreck.

I had just run into Owen. Myex-husbandOwen… in the flesh.

Why does he have to be so handsome? Why does he have to smile with that perfectly located dimple? Why did he have to sound so sincere and concerned when he spoke to us?

Why do I even care?

I knew when I arrived in Acacia Falls that I’d most likely run into him, and I had resigned myself to the fact. What I wasn’t prepared for was my intrigue and theyearningthat I’d thought was long dead.

And that alone had frustration racing through me—at my own stupidity, at my own weakness.

Owen had chosen someone else and rejected me. True to form, that reminder was a sure way to burn those pesky warm and fuzzy feelings to complete ash—where they belonged. I was just experiencing the final remnants of my past, that was all.

So why does it feel like more than that?

Shaking my head, I led Austin into my dad’s hospital room. I was glad to see him sound asleep after such a traumatic night. The call from my mother had Alicia and me scrambling with total fear as we packed the car and raced for town in the early hours of the morning.

I’d already let work know that I required emergent leave and that I was unsure when I was to return. I wanted to be there for my parents, support them through everything. And sure, maybe I wanted reassurance that my dad was going to be okay too.

It was surreal. Dad was our family rock—strong and unyielding. To see him in such a vulnerable state had us Thorne girls on edge, although we all tried to mask it in our own ways.

Mum fussed with the flowers beside his bed, and my sister lounged in the corner chair, scowling at her phone.

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