Page 58 of Our Lips Are Sealed
“Where’s her people from?”
“Uh, I’m not sure?”
“South Carolina,” Evie answered. “She moved to Florida when her mother died.”
Judy nodded in approval. “She must be Gullah and knows what’s what. You two listen to what she says.”
Evie did roll her eyes then. This was Simone they were talking about. It would kind of be hard not to listen when she spoke, considering she never gave you a choice to do otherwise.
“Got it,” Jamison said, totally buying into what Judy was saying. “And I’ll talk to Abe about planting all that other stuff. He’ll know exactly what to do.”
Nick laughed loudly at something Cohen said. Samuel had joined them at the table, giving her and Jamison privacy with Judy.
“Help me, Mama,” Nick called over to them. “I’m sitting here with a Patriot and a Falcon fan.”
Judy patted Evie and Jamison’s knees. “Sorry, boys, but my girls will be no such thing,” she said. “Nick, you’re gonna have to order some Saints jerseys for them.”
Jamison’s head swiveled back and forth, grinning wildly at the exchange. Evie knew her sister had no idea what the difference was between a Patriot and a Saint, but she was sure Jamison would research all things football on the way home.
“Well, now Mama, hold on,” Nick said with a wink. “They might be Miami fans like their brother. We all know how Toby loves his Dolphins.”
Chapter 15
Woodpaneledwallsspunin Liam’s vision while his brain processed Nick’s words.
“What?”
Nick’s face fell as everyone except Judy stared at him with their mouths open. “He’s still a huge Miami Dolphins fan, isn’t he? I know they’ve had a shitty year and all, but I doubt he’d give them up over a few bad runs.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Samuel had gone rigid, every muscle coiled tight in his body. “When did you meet Toby?”
Judy shrunk into herself, bewildered by their reaction. “What do you mean? He’s been visiting us for a long time now.”
Evie went incredibly pale over on the couch, and Liam thought she might pass out. The entire room was ready to erupt, and he needed to talk fast, recalling everything Samuel had told him of the boy who left Haven House and never returned. “When was the last time you spoke to him?”
“It was around Christmas,” Nick replied, just as puzzled as his mother. “He stopped by on his way to Kansas City because he was spending the holidays with a cousin of y’alls. I think her name is Cecilia?”
Fuck.
That was the only thought in Liam’s head as Evie swayed, teetering from side to side in a rocking motion.
“Son of a bitch,” Samuel hissed, bolting across the room in less than a second. He kneeled before Evie, who had somehow gone even paler. Cradling her cheek in his hand, he shushed what sounded like little gasping hiccups. “Toby isn’t their fucking brother.”
“You don’t have to be rude,” Nick huffed. “He might not be biologically related, but he’s still their brother. We know Laura Jean adopted him, just like we know it’s your father who wouldn’t let the girls come and visit.”
Liam suppressed the urge to pull out his phone and start making calls. As much as he needed to talk to Hawkins and his father, he first wanted to gain as much information from these people as he could before Samuel hauled the women out of the trailer to take them far away from here.
And judging by Evie’s current state, rocking in place and near tears, he didn’t think he had much time. “Missouri,” she cried to Samuel as he spoke softly to her. “Toby was in Missouri?”
Jamison stood as if she needed to jump into action, but there was nowhere to go. “What the hell is happening?”
Judy rubbed Evie’s arm, trying to help Samuel calm her. “Toby said Ben Fairweather wouldn’t let you girls come around, but it was alright for him because Ben didn’t care what he did,” she said. “He’s always told us that, even when he visited us while we were both away.”
“You said Toby was traveling to Kansas City last Christmas.” Liam silently signaled a warning to Samuel to let him take the lead. Questioning these people wasn’t going to be easy. Fresh out of serving time, there was a high possibility the two of them would clam up around law enforcement. “But where was he coming from?”
“Miami,” Judy replied. “He was practicing there, but said he was taking a job closer to home after the New Year because he wanted to be near y’all.”
“Practicing what?” Jamison shouted, now almost as frantic as her sister.
