Page 14 of The Stone Family Warrior

“It’s okay,” he whispered, holding her tighter.

No, no, no! She didn’t want to cry more, but her body began shaking as she thought of her little boy.

Tom relaxed his hold but kept her against him. “I’m so sorry, sis,” he whispered. “I can’t imagine what it means to lose a child. I mean … I know you loved Will, but any man who cheats on my—”

“I don’t want to do this,” she said, pushing back and trying to smother the burst of emotion. She’d gotten good at doing “little cries” the past year, then forcing herself to hold it together. She used the scrunched-up tissue in her hand to dab her eyes. “I can’t do this. None of that matters anymore anyway.” She nodded to the hallway. “Should we make sure you have everything?”

He trailed after her. “I don’t know that it matters, but I agree with your therapist. You should start reaching out again.”

She paused and thought about telling him about her crazy experience running into Trent Stone.

He snapped his fingers. “What about that PE teacher who came with you to grandmother’s funeral? He seemed pretty determined.”

“Shane?” She shouldn’t be surprised her brother would ask about Shane. Shane had been amazing during her grandmother’s funeral. “Shane is just a friend,” she said, shrugging. “Or was. It doesn’t matter now.”

“It could matter.”

It was ridiculous that her mind flashed to Trent Stone. “I don’t date anymore. I don’t want a relationship. I don’t …”

“I really liked Shane.” Her brother stated, crossing his arms.

“You did?” It wasn’t like her brother to comment about her relationships. At least, it hadn’t been before.

“Maybe he would do the Appalachian Trail with you. He looked in shape enough.”

“No.” She hadn’t told Shane about her plans for that. She thought about the ring he’d tried to give her, and his tears when she’d refused. “There will never be anything with me and Shane.”

Her brother surrendered. “Hey, I was just trying to be helpful, but clearly I failed.” He rubbed his forehead. “I’ve been failing a lot in the helpful way lately. Just ask Letty.”

Liberty bit her lip. Normally, Letty would be with him. “Where is she?”

“Hmm.” His voice sounded funny. He shrugged. “Probably with the guy she cheated on me with.”

If a tsunami would have come and smashed the house to smithereens, she would have been less bowled over. “Oh, Tom.” She crossed the distance and opened her arms.

This time, he was the one to fall into an embrace, holding her tightly and shaking. “I’m okay. I …”

“Is she seriously cheating on you?”

He sniffed. “I caught her right after Grandmother’s funeral, coming out of our apartment with … a guy from work, in the middle of the day.”

“What?”

“I’d forgotten a legal brief I’d been working on and I’d gone home at lunch, and …” He gave her a dismissive wave. “We’ve been going to therapy. She says she’s done with the affair and wants to work it out, but …”

Her heart was literally breaking. It made sense why her brother had been absent from her life for the past couple months. She instantly forgave him, and she felt horrible for being angry at him. She took his hands into hers. “Tom, I’m so sorry.”

His face settled back into the attorney look that he’d acquired over the past couple years. “No, I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I acted like such a jerk about Grandmother’s house, and then … I haven’t been there for you either.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not.” He squeezed her hands.

Maybe she was fudging the truth a little bit, but she loved her brother and she could feel his pain. “Yes, it really is. I’m in a good place.”

He cocked a doubtful eyebrow. “You quit your job, you sold your house, and you’re going to hike the Appalachian Trail.”

She pulled her hands back, flashing him a grin. “Right.” She pushed his shoulder. “You should come with me.” Even as she said it, the intensity of the idea grew.

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