Page 76 of Ashes of the Past
“And yet, here I am. Withfood.”
I shake my head, but my stomach betrays me, rumbling at the smell of whatever she brought. “You always know how to speak right to my heart.”
“Food talks, which, in turn, makes you talk.”
“Come on,” I say, flipping off the front lights. “We can eat in my office.”
We weave through the dimly lit shop, past rows of flowers settled in their coolers for the night. Once inside my office, I collapse into my chair while Rachel sets the food down and starts pulling out containers.
“Howarethings at the ranch?” she asks as she looks back at me.
“It’s really hard to look out my front door and see the skeleton of the old barn.”
“I can’t imagine. Have they found Lane?”
“Nope. He’s disappeared, which, to me, is a loud sign that he’s guilty. Clay called me screaming yesterday, saying that Lane isn’t answering calls or texts and that he’s worried he’s in trouble.”
“And that’s not your problem.”
“I know,” I murmur softly.
“Brynn,” she says with a sigh. “Olivia’s uncle or not, he is not your responsibility. If Clay was really concerned, then he would have called the sheriff and the hospitals, not you.”
“He could have.”
“No. Fuck him. His brother possibly committed arson and could have killed people or caused your entire family ranch to go up in flames because he’s petulant, and the bastard has the nerve to call and scream at you? No. Why aren’t you mad at this?”
“I hung up on him.”
She looks back at me carefully. “That’s a start, and I know it’s a big deal for you.”
“I am mad, by the way. But…what’s the point of screaming and yelling accusations? I don’t want to waste any more energy on Clay or Lane. Instead of arguing with him, I just hung up.”
“You’re right,” she sighs. “And I’m proud of you.”
“I just…I’ve wrestled so long with the fact that he’s Olivia’s dad, and I didn’t want to be responsible for him not being in his life.”
“That’s his choice. You know that, right?”
I nod slowly. “I do. I guess.”
I do, but it’s still a hard thing that I’m working through.
“How’s Jack doing?” she asks casually as she hands me a fork. “After the fire and everything?”
My heart stops at the drastic change in our conversation’s direction.
Does she know? She always knows. She knew when Clay and I started talking because of how I was acting.Shit…I can’t tell her any of this, can I?
I inhale slowly and pause for a fraction of a second before answering. “He seems good.”
She narrows her eyes, watching me too closely. I focus on opening my container and stabbing at the food inside.
“Brynn.”
I glance up, but the moment our eyes meet, I look away.
She doesn’t let it slide. “Why did you just look away?” she asks, leaning forward and holding up a hand to stop me from dodging the question.
