Page 24 of Eye of Her Storm

“This is Suzette,” their father said. He waved his hand at someone still out of sight in the living room, and a few moments later, two girls several years younger than River and Moon appeared in the doorway. They shared their mother’s blonde hair but looked an awful lot like River and her sisters.

“This is Xana and Josey,” their father said, indicating each girl. They smiled warmly. They seemed interested to meet their new sisters but uncomfortable with the situation. And really, who wouldn’t be? It was such a weird situation. Without hesitating, Moon rush forward to the girls.

“I’m so happy to meet you,” she exclaimed. That was so like Moon. She’d never met a stranger. River sometimes wished she were more like her twin in that regard. Though she was eager to meet her new family, she moved forward with less enthusiasm. She couldn’t help but think she’d meet them only to have to say goodbye soon, but she tried to push that from her head. She couldn’t spend her whole remaining life dwelling on what would happen in a few months. Her frequent arguments with Seth and Tai were about just this: she wanted to be treated normally and not like someone on their deathbed—by everyone, including herself!

She reached out and took Xana’s hand in hers. “Hey, I’m River.” She nodded toward Moon. “And this is my twin sister, Moon—well, I guess our sister.”

Man, this was weird. She’d had no idea that she had other sisters. Probably, they hadn’t been born until after her mother, Jemma, had taken off with the older girls. When their father had supposedly died, Sunflower had been less than a year old.

After she’d shared a stiff hug with both of her new siblings, River turned to Suzette. Suzette pulled her into a much warmer embrace, apparently having no problem sharing her feelings. Tears welled in the older woman’s eyes.

“You’re all so beautiful,” Suzette gushed. “I have missed you so much.”

“So…you know us?” Moon asked.

Suzette and Leo shared a look then he nodded. “Why don’t we all sit down?” he asked.

Just as they were all about to head into the living room, a loud knock sounded on the front door. Paisley went to answer, and a few minutes later, Seth and Tai rushed into the room and hugged River. “Are you okay?” Seth asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” River answered. She glanced over at her dad and his family, wondering how to explain this. “Dad,” she said, the word feeling uncomfortable on her tongue. “These are my…boyfriends. Seth and Tai, this is my father, Leo, and his family.”

“We’re your family, too,” Suzette interjected, her correction gentle but determined.

“Right,” River replied. “I’m sorry. This is all so…new. Guys, this is my stepmom, Suzette. And my youngest sisters, Xana and Josey.”

Both men greeted the visitors then with laughter all around, the four new members of the family sorted out who was who, everything becoming more complicated as Brant and Ace joined them with Sela and Kylor.

The group finally settled on the living room’s couches and overstuffed chairs, as well as a few dining room chairs the men brought in. Before Leo could start with the revelation of the past twenty-three years, another knock came on the door.

The newcomer didn’t wait to be let in. Scant moments later, Sun rushed into the room, with her boss, Robert Daly, on her heels. River raised a brow and glanced at Moon. Since Moon’s husband worked for Robert at the Flying D, River figured she’d know what was happening there. Moon shrugged, but her expression said she’d get to the bottom of things.

Introductions were repeated then Sun settled into a straight-back chair with Robert beside her. River studied the pair, noting Robert’s arm slung behind her little sister’s shoulders. Something was going on between the rancher and his office assistant.

Fingers laced through hers and distracted her from that scene. She glanced up at Seth, smiling. Tai’s arm tightened around her waist, and she settled into them, enjoying the warmth and security between their two bodies. No matter what storm blew in, they were her calm. Lately, it seemed as if hurricane-force winds battered her from several directions, but these men were her shelter.

“So, can you explain this?” Paisley finally asked their father. Silence had fallen as everyone waited for Leo’s story to finally unfold.

“Yes.” Leo pushed a hand through his thick, salt-and-pepper hair. Suzette squeezed his thigh and gave him a look of encouragement. “When it comes right down to it, it’s not that complicated. As uncomfortable as it is to say, your mom basically kidnapped the four of you.”

“Kidnapped?” Moon repeated, even though she and River had discussed it in the car.

Leo nodded. He looked around the room, taking in the sisters, boyfriends, husbands and the two small children who filled the room. Of their family members, only Moon’s husband was missing. “I was afraid you’d be shocked by this explanation—or at least, by how this all started out. But judging by the state of things around here, it shouldn’t be too huge of a surprise. Back before you were born, your mom and I lived in a commune in Michigan. We were together for several years before Paisley was born, and during that time, Suzette joined our family as my second wife—spiritually, of course, since the US doesn’t recognize polygamy as a legal right. We all lived together as a family. Probably a lot like you do here. About six months after Sun was born, Suzette learned she was pregnant with Josey. And…” He blew out a hard breath, heavy with regret. “Jemma didn’t handle it well. I guess I never realized how badly she was taking it—not until too late. One day, while I was at work and Suzette was in the city doing our monthly shopping, your mom packed you all up and disappeared.”

“And you never found us?” River asked. “Mom used her real name. I don’t think she hid very well.”

“You’re right,” Leo agreed. “She didn’t hide well, but her maiden name of Williams made it pretty difficult. Still, I found you. Lots of times. But every time I’d come after you, somehow, your mom would figure out I was on my way and disappear again.”

“Didn’t the police or FBI or someone help?”

“You’d think so, right?” Suzette nearly growled.

Leo patted her leg. “Because of the polygamy aspect, no one would take us seriously, even though they should have. By all rights, my case should have gotten as much attention as any other kidnapping. It didn’t. I can’t prove it, but I’m fairly sure the authorities dutifully took my reports then buried them. No one wanted to touch the case. Jemma was your mom, there was no history of her abusing any of you and the situation wasn’t part of mainstream, Leave-It-to-Beaver America. Our type of people doesn’t make good press—unless it’s for tabloids or reality TV.”

He shook his head before continuing. “When you were older, when you were in college, it was actually harder to find you. And by then, I wasn’t sure how to approach you. To tell the truth, I just let it be for a little while, but it ate me up. The stress of my job, searching for all of you constantly for over twenty years, guilt, worry, feeling like I shouldn’t have ever stopped looking, trying to take care of the rest of our family, too… It all took its toll on me. Last year, I had a heart attack. I decided to retire early. That’s when Suzette started searching for you on her own. She found you this time then asked me to come here.”

Overwhelmed by the information, River looked at the woman in question, putting two and two together. Her parents had been together with Suzette since before Paisley was born. River knew how the men in Daly operated within their families. It didn’t matter who was a child’s biological father. All the men in the relationship were parents. She couldn’t imagine either of Paisley’s husbands not being heartbroken if Paisley took off with the kids. “So…you were…kind of like our mom?”

Suzette nodded, tears filling her eyes again. “I didn’t give birth to you, but I was just as much your mom as Jemma was when we were living together.”

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