Page 70 of Home for Justice
Silence hung on the line, broken only by the faint sound of John’s sigh. Justice could almost picture him there, sitting with his head in his hands, the burden of their shared bloodline settling heavy on his shoulders.
“Justice,” he said finally, voice low, “I can try talking to them. Maybe if it comes from me?—”
“You know, John,” she interrupted gently, “I wouldn’t bother. They’re gonna be mad no matter what. But they should be mad at me and Dad, not you. You’re their son. You do whatever you need to do to keep the peace with them.”
Another beat of silence, and then a stubborn note slid into his tone. “I hear what you’re saying… but I’m still going to tell them to knock it the hell off. They’ve gotten everything they’re ever gonna get.”
A small smile tugged at Justice’s lips, warmed by the loyalty in his voice. Wanting to lighten the mood, she asked, “How’s Chicago treating you?”
John’s chuckle rolled through the phone, and it was a balm to her frayed nerves. “Chicago’s good. Real good. I always knew I had to get out of that little town and away from Mom and Dad’s chaos. I’ve been with the same ad agency for ten years now. I love the city, I love my job… and I love that it’s a thousand miles from their doorstep.”
Justice laughed, the tension in her chest easing. “I hear you. I admire you, too. I never had the urge to leave, but I carved out my own little world here. Some might think still living on family land means I haven’t gone far, but?—”
“Hey, don’t put yourself down, Justice,” John interrupted, firm. “To each their own. I had to escape a toxic home. You had a good relationship with your parents and a business you believed in. You stepped up. That’s not small. That’s something to be proud of.”
Emotion pricked her eyes unexpectedly. “Thanks, John,” she said, her voice thickening slightly. “I needed to hear that.”
“I mean it.”
A comfortable quiet settled between them for a moment before John asked, “So what’s the deal with this developer? Sounds like he’s throwing a lot of money around.”
Justice rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, wishing she could roll her problems away just as easily. “Oh, he’s offering a buyout, but it’s not worth it. He’s a real snake. Dad and I both said no without blinking. And thankfully, our closest neighbor isn’t selling either. He wants to slap up a bunch of ugly condos and ruin the view, the community, everything. Not happening. Not while we’re here.”
“I don’t blame you,” John said warmly. “You’ve got a hell of a view out there. Don’t let them take it from you.”
She smiled again, feeling lighter after the conversation. “We won’t.”
“Well, listen, Justice, I’ll let you get back to it. It was good to catch up. And I’ll see if I can rein my parents in… though I’m not making any promises.”
After they said their goodbyes and the call disconnected, Justice set her phone down on the desk and rubbed the back of her neck. If John thought he could pull his parents’ heads out of their asses…then more power to him.But deep down, she doubted even the best marketing pitch could sell Jordy and Debbie on reason and decency.
Later, as her workday ended, and Justice finally pushed through the front door, the comforting smell of home wrapped around her like a soft blanket. She paused, blinking in surprise at the scene before her. Tyler was standing shoulder to shoulder with her dad in the kitchen, both of them intent on whatever they were cooking. The savory scents wafted through the air, rich and hearty, making her stomach rumble in anticipation.
Her heart gave a little flutter. Her dad looked stronger every day, and even though the fire had rattled all of them, it was clear he’d managed to rest. His color was better, his movements steadier. And Tyler looked just as constant as ever, a mountain of calm and quiet strength.
How many nights like this had he gone without sleep when he was in the Army?The thought made her chest tighten with something dangerously close to awe.
Both men turned as she entered, and Tyler immediately shifted to the side, leaving a clear path to her father. It was such a simple gesture, yet it hit her square in the heart as proof of the respect Tyler had for her dad… and for her.He gets it.And this thought warmed all the way through.
She winked at Tyler as she passed him, her fingers brushing lightly against his forearm. Then she wrapped her arms around her dad, careful but firm, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
Turning back, she caught Tyler’s grin and the way his arms opened, silently inviting her in.
She didn’t hesitate, sliding into his embrace. His arms came around her, solid and sure, anchoring her to something safe and good. She sighed, a smile tugging at her lips.
Whether it was the end of a long night, a chaotic day, or even a perfect one… Tyler’s arms felt like the place she always wanted to be.
When she finally pulled back, she grinned. “Whatever you’re cooking,” she said, sniffing the air appreciatively, “it smells amazing.”
Jack beamed, clearly proud, and offered her a taste from a large wooden spoon. She leaned in, blew gently across the steaming morsel, and slipped it into her mouth. The burst of rich, savory flavor had her moaning without thinking, her eyes fluttering closed. “Mmm.”
When she opened her eyes again, she caught Tyler subtly adjusting himself, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and agony. Heat flooded her cheeks as she realized that sound was far too similar to the one she’d made when Tyler had had her crying out his name in his bed.
Clapping her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles, she shot him a wide-eyed look of apology. Tyler’s pointed, knowing stare only made it harder to keep a straight face. Thankfully, dinner was ready soon after, saving them both.
The three of them gathered at the table with the warm, homey scent of stew filling the kitchen. As they ate, Justice gave her dad a full update on the garage—how the customers had been understanding, how the mechanics were busting their asses to catch up, how the cleanup went, and how the new windows would hopefully be installed soon, making the plywood just a bad memory.
When there was a natural pause, she said, “I got a call from John today.” She glanced over at Tyler and added, “He’s my cousin… you remember, the one I told you about?”
