Page 25 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

Dani kept me close to her side as we walked up the steps into the main part of the house. There was a sea of people, only a few of whom I knew. One person stuck out to me—John Holland. He was hanging out in the kitchen, away from the main action in the living area. His dark eyes were focused on one person: Sheridan. I had no idea why they were separated, and I knew he wasn’t the warmest of men, but I had never seen such a look of longing. Well . . . that wasn’t true. I’d seen it in Brant’s eyes . . . when he looked at me. That thought made me stop and hold my breath. No. I must have been mistaken. He didn’t long for me. Grandma was wrong.

“Are you alright?” Dani whispered.

I nodded but couldn’t stop looking at Mr. Holland. Like Brant, he had lost weight. And though still debonair like his sons, he had lost his intimidating air. Now he looked vacant, and I dare say frightened. Perhaps scared that he was losing the woman he loved. And there was no doubt he loved her, judging by the way he looked at her. It was as if she were his lifeblood.

Dani dragged me to the living room, Brant trailing behind. My mind, though, wasn’t on the party. What was going on in the Hollands’ world? I felt as if I were missing something.

“There’s the birthday girl,” Ariana interrupted my thoughts. She and her little family came my way. Ariana had texted earlier to say they would be late. Apparently, she’d had a breast leakage issue and Sammy’s diaper had exploded twice before they could get out the door. Maybe single life wasn’t all that bad, I thought. Until I looked at Jonah who was ever the proud daddy holding Sammy. Oh, how I wanted that.

Whitney was holding Ariana’s hand, looking so grown up for a seven-year-old. It made sense, since she was probably the smartest person in the room, which was saying something in a room full of doctors and lawyers, and let’s not forget the international bestselling author.

Dani, I guessed, felt safe enough to let me go, even though Brant seemed to hover nearby. To prove there was no danger of me throwing my attention toward Brant, I knelt and opened my arms, inviting Whitney in for a hug. The beautiful brown-haired girl flew into my arms.

“Felix natalis, Aunt Kinsley. That’s happy birthday in Latin,” Whitney informed me. “I had to start taking Latin to better understand the genus name of species.”

Of course she did. I kissed her cheek and smiled. “That’s very important.”

She leaned away from me. “Oh, I know,” she said ever so seriously. “I feel like it will help my research.”

I had no doubt this girl was not only going to set the paleontology world on fire, but eventually she would rule the entire world. That was a world I looked forward to. “I can’t wait to read your new research paper.”

She rolled her eyes. “My parents wouldn’t let me bring it tonight.”

I grinned up at Ariana. “How rude.”

“That’s what I said,” Whitney responded.

“Everyone, gather around,” Brock shouted above the noise of the large crowd.

I stood and took Whitney’s hand. I needed a hand to hold. What I really needed was to run and hide. I didn’t want to be put on display, especially in a room full of strangers who couldn’t care less about me. They were all here for the darling four-year-old clinging to the pink unicorn that was bigger than her. No doubt I had lost the favorite status to Brant. At least for now. The mother of all sleepovers was about to happen.

“It’s time to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’” Brock bent down and picked up Gemma, unicorn and all. You’d never seen a happier man than he was in that moment. To think it was only last year he had been taken hostage in Afghanistan and almost died. I knew he still suffered the effects of PTSD, but Dani and Gemma had healed his soul in ways no therapy could. Not to say he didn’t go to therapy—he did. Even so, the girl in his arms and my sister worked a different kind of magic on him. I used to think if Dani and Brock could get together after fourteen years of keeping to friends only, maybe there was hope for me. I knew better now.

“You better come here too,” Brock called out to me.

I tried to keep the grimace off my face as I reluctantly let go of Whitney and walked toward Brock and Gemma who stood near the table full of gifts for the cutest birthday girl ever. Little did she know, most of those would probably get donated to Children to Love.

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