Page 11 of Wallflower
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.”
Daisy starts strolling again, glancing up the way to check that Izzy’s still in sight. Our niece is passing the chicken coops, twirling and kicking up puffs of dust before skipping through them like it’s some kind of magic and not airborne dirt that Dylan will have to wash out of her clothes tonight.
I’m growing impatient as I adjust my pace to match Daisy’s much shorter stride. “I call bullshit. What’s going on?”
“Well. You’re here. I’m here—”
“And why are you here, exactly?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out, Mr. Grumpy Pants.” I roll my eyes, and she sticks out her tongue. “Charlie and Dylan live here, and as for our troubled middle child—”
“Finn? Do you know where he is?”
I shove my hands in my pockets at the thought of our brother serving overseas. I don’t like to think about it, and I’m good at avoiding thoughts that don’t feel good, but I’m the oldest. I should keep closer tabs on my brothers and sisters, but it’s like Daisy said. Charlie and Dylan never leave the ranch. Daisy packed her suitcase the day after Dad’s funeral, got on a plane, and we’ve barely seen her since. And then there’s Finn. He enlisted straight out of high school and is a Navy SEAL now, so…
I do the math in my head. He’s been gone for thirteen years. Fuck. Somewhere in there, I missed his thirtieth birthday.
“I do.” Daisy looks like a cat who caught a mouse. “He’s in Mom and Dad’s bungalow.”
It’s my turn to stop dead still. The bungalow is a little house our parents built right on the river, and though they said it was reserved for private rentals like honeymooners, bachelor parties, and celebrities, I don’t ever remember them renting it out. Instead, one or both of them would disappear out there for a day or two at a time. Dad would take his fishing rod. Mom would take a book. They’d both come back a little happier and more relaxed. It made more sense to me now than it did then. Living on a property that welcomed a constant stream of strangers must have been exhausting, not to mention raising five kids. But they loved each other. Fiercely and always. I suspect they never had any intention of using that bungalow for any other reason than as their own escape when they needed a break.
“Finn’s here?” I take hold of Daisy’s arm and turn her to face me. “Why? For how long?” Panic grabs me by the throat. “Is he all right? He’s not injured, is he?”
“No, he’s not injured, and I don’t know for how long, but… He’s been discharged, Chord. He’s not a SEAL anymore.”
A sound of surprise and relief escapes in a rush of air. Our family isn’t what anyone would call close, but the fact I didn’t know this information about my brother still stings.
“I had no idea.”
Daisy gives me a sad smile, and I wonder what she heard in my voice. “Don’t feel bad. He didn’t tell anyone until he got here, and that was only three days ago, but he’s been discharged for three months.”
“Threemonths? Where has he been all this time?”
Daisy shrugs. “You know Finn. He’s not exactly an open book, but the best I can make out, he traveled around for a while and caught up with old friends. Picked up a stray dog. Now he’s home, and we’re all together again.” Daisy skips forward a couple of paces so she can walk backward and beam at me. “How great is that?”
“Yeah. It’s great.” Daisy’s optimism is contagious, and for a moment, I can almost believe that this will be the summer our family gets its shit together.
The moment doesn’t last long.
“Meanwhile.” She waves a hand up and down at my body, her nose scrunching in disapproval. “Are you trying to impress a girl or something? What the hell are you wearing?”
I look down at my black t-shirt and dark blue jeans. Both designer. Both fucking expensive. “What’s wrong with this?”
She rolls her eyes. Little sisters were made to annoy big brothers, I know that, but she does it so well and with so little effort that it’s extra irritating.
“We’ve been out here for fifteen minutes, and your shoes are already filthy. I give your shirt another five before it’s covered in dust as well.”
I glance at my feet and frown at the dirt caking the white leather. “I walked from my house, so it’s been longer than fifteen minutes.”
She snorts and spins so we’re walking side by side again. I note her scuffed-up work boots, worn jeans, loose tee, and wide-brimmed hat and suddenly feel overdressed.
“Step onto this ranch in white sneakers and twenty-five-hundred-dollar jeans again, big brother, and we’re going to have words. Wear that fancy watch one more time and you might never see it again. You’re a country boy, Davenport, not some rich dick from the city.” Just when I’m starting to feel stupid for not changing after the drive, she glances up at me. “And put on a hat. You don’t want that pretty face of yours to burn.”
I flick the brim of her hat, sending it flying to the ground. “Did anyone ever tell you how annoying you are?”
After a decent pinch to my ribs that makes me grunt, she picks it up with a shake of her head. “You’re such a baby.”
