Page 28 of The Last One You Loved
I thought back to McKenna’s ringless hand in the car, the dark circles under her eyes, and the way her body screamed exhaustion. No matter what her life had been like four years ago, when I’d first found Mila screaming in filth and squalor with Sybil passed out in her own vomit, it was clear that McKenna’s life wasn’t a happily ever after at the moment. She was running. Running hard enough that she’d thought she’d use her father’s house as an escape. A father who’d barely been in her life and who she’d told me she’d never trust.
I took another sip of the margarita and shot my sister and Mama a severe look. “No one tells her. She says she’s leaving tomorrow, so it shouldn’t matter, but send one of your bat-signals out to all our family and friends to make sure they know.”
“So, whatareyou going to tell her?” Gemma asked.
“Nothing. I won’t likely even see her again. I told her to put the key in the guests’ drop slot on her way out tomorrow,” I said, and hell if that didn’t twist my gut in a different way. I wanted to know what was eating at McKenna. I wanted to know why she was exhausted and running, but I couldn’t afford to find out, not only for Mila’s sake but for the sake of my heart and soul, which had taken one too many hits at her hands.
“Well, damn,” Mama said, brow scrunching. “If Ryder hadn’t torn up all the cabins, we’d have plenty of room, but with Sadie and all her friends showing up on Monday, we’re full up, even in the barn unit.”
“McKenna isn’t staying,” I said firmly. She couldn’t, and she’d agreed. But then I frowned, trying to recall what words McKenna had actually used. Surely, she wouldn’t stay now that Trap’s house?my house?wasn’t available.
A scream of little-girl joy tore through the air, and I frowned at my mother. “What did you do now?”
Mila’s feet pounded down the stairs, and she twirled into the room with not one but two unicorns in her hands. Chester had been a dying breed when we’d found him in a shop in Knoxville when Mila and I had dropped Sadie off at college two years ago. The toymaker had retired the line, but ever since we’d bought him, and Mila had seen the tag on him that named each of his unicorn friends from that damn book she loved, she’d been clamoring to find the rest of the herd and bring them all together, which is exactly what my mama had done. She’d found Chester’s friend, Charlotte.
“NANA!!! You are the best grandma on the face of this planet. Chester is so very happy.” She hugged my mother and then ran to me, shoving the two unicorns up into my face. “Look, Daddy, Charlotte returned home to Chester just like McKenna returned home to you.”
My stomach plummeted while Mama and Gemma burst out laughing.
“Okay, Bug-a-Boo, say thank you and goodnight so we can get you home and to bed.”
“Can I stay the night, Daddy? Pretty please?”
I eyeballed the margaritas. “Not tonight, Mila. Nana had other plans.”
“Puh-lease. Having my grandbaby is always better than any other plans I’ve made. Besides, you were going to drop her off in the morning to help with the Thanksgiving pies anyway.”
“Where’s Dad?” I asked.
“Went with Ryder to Nashville for a Tennessee Dude Ranchers’ Association meeting. They’ll be back tomorrow.”
Mila jumped from foot to foot, hugging the two unicorns to her chest. “Please, Daddy?”
She got her way too damn much, but it lifted my heart to make her happy, to give her the simple pleasures of a family who loved her.
“I guess I’ll have to finish watchingScoobyby myself,” I said, forcing all the fake despair I could into my voice, and Mila giggled.
“You’re funny, Daddy. You know you won’t watch it without me.”
“Give me hugs,” I said.
She did, squeezing me as tight as her little arms could and kissing my cheek. “I love you, Bug-a-Boo,” I told her, voice gruff and full of emotions.
“Love you, too, Daddy!” And then she ran back to Mama. “Can we have a dance party?”
“Anything you want!”
“She’s going to be a grouchy mess tomorrow, so good luck with the pies,” I said with a smirk.
“She’s only cranky with you,” Gemma said.
My smile widened at that thought. It didn’t bother me at all. It meant she felt safe enough to be herself with me.
I hugged Mama and Gemma, said goodnight, picked up my hat, and headed for the door. The music had already switched to Mila’s latest Disney pop obsession before I’d even closed it behind me. It eased the worry coasting through me.
When I reached the Bronco, I looked up at the unit above the barn to find it dark. Maybe it had all been a dream. Maybe McKenna wasn’t back in Willow Creek. But her rental car parked next to me told me otherwise. My entire chest ached from worry. It wasn’t just for my daughter. It was for the person who I’d thought was the other part of my soul before she’d left. The person who looked like she’d run herself into the ground.
I climbed in, started the ignition, and drove down the drive.
