Page 12 of Sean

“Oh, it just seemed…” Emmy took a gulp of coffee and silence threatened again.

“Can you pass this to your mommy?” Eden, his eight-year-old niece, handed the butter container to Lucy.

“My mommy’s dead.” Lucy’s tone was matter of fact as she took the butter and gave it to Julia.

“I guess I should have explained,” Julia said. “I’m Lucy and Amos’s aunt. Their mother was my sister.”

Please don’t ask for details. Sean silently begged the other adults at the table. It was clear that their mother’s death had left its marks on the kids. He still remembered how panicked Amos had been at the thought that Julia would be going away. He didn’t want to bring up the subject where the children could hear.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” his mother said. “Poor kids. It’s a good thing they have you.”

Sean looked at Amos to see how he was doing, but the boy was busy eating and talking with Alice about the sun and stars. That was safe territory, and plates were starting to be cleaned as everyone ate their fill. Just a few more minutes, and they could get away from this forced family time. A good conversation starter suddenly occurred to him. It was almost Emmy’s birthday, and they always went all out for it.

“What’s your birthday party theme this year?” he asked.

He knew the second the question was out that he’d made a mistake. His father’s expression shuttered. Tara and his mother’s were carefully blank. And Emmy gasped. Shit. Now what?

“We haven’t celebrated my birthday since JP…” Emmy carefully placed her fork on her plate.

Sean’s breath caught. It was Emmy who had always insisted on going all out…but the parties had always been for JP, too. The joint birthday bash had started when they were little kids as a way of celebrating both of them. They’d agree on a theme and put their individual spins on it like the year when they were ten and King Arthur was their choice. The boys were all knights and the girls dressed as princesses. Everyone rode horses and wore costumes.

It hadn’t occurred to him that without JP, all of that would have gone away.

The loss of his brother suddenly felt fresh again. He’d battled it down over the past four years, but there it was, raw and real. The worst was that he had no idea what to say to Emmy. This was why he didn’t come around, why he kept to himself. Everything was a live land mine just waiting to be triggered.

Tara cleared her throat. “Mom, did I tell you that Riley called in sick today? Stomach bug. I got a text from him earlier. He was supposed to fix the fence in the south pasture today, but it’ll have to wait.”

“I can manage it,” Kelly said. “I should have a spare few hours this afternoon.”

“I’ll fix the fence,” Sean volunteered, grateful to Tara for the change in subject. “I’ll get out there this morning.”

“You drove all night,” Julia said softly. “You have to be tired.”

Sean saw his mother’s look of approval at Julia—and a hint of a matchmaking glint in her eye. Oh, no. They’d been clear. There was nothing between them, no relationship. Julia was just a decent human being who cared about others. She didn’t have feelings for him and she certainly did not want his nosy family trying to push them together.

“Excellent point,” Kelly commented. “Sean can take a nap first. There’s no real rush on the fence so long as it gets done today. Sean, why don’t you go upstairs? Your room is ready for you. We’ll get Julia and the kids settled in.”

For the love of god. He was a grown man and a former SEAL. Did they think he couldn’t function on minimal sleep? Did they think he needed to be managed like an over-tired five-year-old? He was about to say that when his father caught his eye and gave a subtle shake of his head. The message was clear. Don’t argue.

Fine. He rose, excusing himself, and headed to the room he’d occupied as a child. If he was very lucky, the women wouldn’t start talking about him as soon as he closed the door.

SEVEN

“Appreciate the help,” Kelly said. “I don’t usually make guests work, but breakfast for a crowd means lots of dirty dishes.” She handed Julia the last of the pans to dry.

“I’m happy to do what I can. I really appreciate you and your husband allowing us to stay here.” Julia glanced to where the kids still sat at the table with coloring books and crayons. Tara had left a few minutes earlier to take her kids to school. She’d had a conversation with them in front of Julia to remind them not to talk to anyone about the guests at the farm. Julia hoped they’d remember.

Kelly wiped the counter and tossed the dish rag into the sink. “This is done. Let’s get you and the kids settled.”

“Anywhere is fine. We don’t take up much space.” She’d been living in cramped quarters with them for so long that Sean’s small house had felt like a luxury. The spacious ranch house was practically a palace.

“Nonsense. We have spare bedrooms. Come on, Lucy and Amos.” Kelly’s mannerisms were brisk but kind, and Julia liked her for that.

Amos and Lucy picked up their duffels and followed Kelly down a hall. The house was all one story, but roomy. Like ranch houses in the West that Julia had seen, it was built around a central courtyard.

“The ranch has been in my family for over sixty years,” Kelly explained as they walked. “The house was smaller then, but it’s been added to as needed. Here we go.” She opened a door to a room that contained two twin beds. Lucy and Amos rushed in.

“We each get our own bed,” Lucy said, claiming the one with a lemon-yellow bedspread as hers. The other bed was made up in pale blue. Amos dove onto it, clearly pleased.

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