Page 100 of Forever in the Country

“What isthis?” Vivian says with a haughtiness that reeks of entitlement.

“Family,” I reply automatically. “And that’s the second time you’ve insulted mine,” I say, my tone deadly calm. “Time for you to go.” I stare pointedly at my father before turning back to the woman who brought me into this world. “You’re not welcome here. If I catch you on this property again, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

“That goes for the bookstore too! Hell, you’re not welcome in this town at all,” Hannah yells and her declaration is followed by hoots and hollers. Warmth fills my chest at the woman leading the charge who only just put down roots here and found a home.

“We’reyour family, Sorren, not these,”—she lifts her nose a little higher— “people.”

“Oh no, she—” Isla’s outrage is undoubtably muffled by Hank’s hand over her mouth, but I don’t turn to confirm that.

“Getthe fuck,”—my voice drops, the warning clear—“out of my town.”

A flash of emotion crosses her face like the finality of the situation has just sunk in.

“Let’s go, Vivian.” My father’s gaze sweeps over the crowd, but he doesn’t meet my gaze as he ushers her to the car—decades later and he’s still a puppet on a string.

After he tucks her into the passenger seat, our eyes meet as he rounds the hood of the car. “For what it’s worth,” he says, “you did the right thing. You were a better man than me even all those years ago. You should be proud of yourself.”

The praise is hollow as he gives a slight nod and joins his wife in the car.

I clamp my jaw shut because he doesn’t deserve anything else from me. We all wait with bated breath as the car starts and travels across the parking lot.

“And stay out!” Otto yells as they turn onto the country road and finally drive out of sight. Cheers erupt around me, and it’s enough to startle some birds in the field to my left. For the first time, I don’t mind the raucous celebration, and I don’t fight the twitch of my lips.

Or the smile that follows.

45

SORREN

“Are you okay?” Rhea asks, and I nod before dropping a quick kiss on her lips. The departure of Vivian and Michael from Clementine Creek and my life is both anticlimactic and also like the biggest fucking weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

“Finally.” She beams up at me and grips my bicep in her other hand as I turn and look at Bodhi. “Learn anything?”

“Blood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” My lips turn up at the end because isn’t that the damn truth.

“But we always show up forfamily,” Otto says as he wraps his arm around Bodhi’s shoulders.

“Hell yeah, we do,” Case says as he steps up alongside us.

“What brought you out here?” I ask as we all turn to look at Bodhi.

“Honestly?” he asks as he rubs the palm of his hand over his jaw. He glances over to where Mama is fussin’ over Mason, the kid just soaking it all in. “I dunno. I just had a feeling like this is where I needed to be.”

I nod because I get it and sometimes that’s all the explanation you need.

“Wanna help move these bags inside?”

“Yep.”

“Good man,” Waylon says as he steps up and clasps Bodhi on the shoulder.

“I’m glad you finally told them off,” Marlee says as she pops up onto her toes and places a kiss on my cheek.

“Me too.” And I mean it.

Turning, I look at everyone gathered around us, my heart squeezing uncomfortably in my chest. I’ve been with these people a million times before, at a million different birthdays and holidays and picnics but…today just hits differently.

The reality that they’ve shown up for me—for Marlee—over and over again has my breath whooshing from my lungs.

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