Page 97 of Prodigal Son

He shrugged. “Sure, I guess. It would be a lot more interesting if I could make sense of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“She keeps talking about me like I don’t live with them. She writes a lot about this woman named Daphne, and I think I was staying with her or something.”

“You don’t know who Daphne is?”

“I’ve never heard of her. Mom had a lot of friends, but never anyone by that name that I remember.” He flipped through the pages of the book. “That’s not all. She talks about my dad, but they’re not married yet. He lives in a dorm, and she lives with my grandmother. How could that be?”

“Sometimes couples have children out of wedlock.”

“They didn’t, at least not according to what they told me. Either this book is a lie or my life is a lie.”

Cain sighed. “Does it matter, Dane? Why not just let this stuff rest and remember the memories you had with your parents? There’s no point to getting angry with ghosts.”

“I guess.” He shut the book, but Cain suspected he’d keep reading it.

An awkward silence passed between them. “Where’s Cybil? I didn’t see her yesterday.”

Dane looked at the big house then back to the front door of Cain’s grandparents’. “Are those people still here?”

“They’re leaving today.” He was anxious to get back.

“Good,” Dane said with notable disapproval. “I can’t believe you let that guy stay there with your sister.”

Cain shot him a questioning glare. “Gracie can handle herself.”

Dane rolled his eyes. “That’s everyone’s answer. My mom was tough too. She’s dead now.”

Feeling sorry for the kid, Cain clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Try not to be so angry at the world. I speak from experience when I say it doesn’t make the difficult emotions any easier to bear.”

He left him to finish reading his journal and headed back to the house. When he returned, Gracie was cooking breakfast.

Destiny paused in the doorway and met his stare, a thousand unspoken sentiments passing between them and his mind fighting back the urge to ask her to stay. No longer outfitted in the dress he’d given her, she wore one of his shirts and the pants she’d arrived in. Her appearance destroyed him, as he loved the sight of her in his shirt but hated the impression that she was ready to go. His sister must have mended her clothes.

Gracie turned from the cookstove, her gaze all too perceptive. He quickly blocked his thoughts and scowled at her for eavesdropping.

The front door opened and Vito came in. “We’re all set. Hey, Cain. You feeling better?” Vito spun a metal set of keys around his finger and checked his pockets. “Don’t forget your phone, D. Mine’s charging in the car.”

Cain’s scowl turned toward the window. The car noisily idled like a kettle ready to burst. “You fixed the vehicle?”

Vito grinned. “Triple A. Turns out, it was just a loose plug. Nothing major.”

Cain turned back to Destiny. “You’re leaving now.”

Her brows pinched over glassy, apologetic eyes. “Vito has work.”

“You two can at least stay for breakfast,” Gracie insisted, pulling Vito away from the door and seating him at the table. She looked back at Cain and winked.

He rushed across the kitchen and took Destiny’s hand. “Come with me.”

“O-okay.”

Towing her out the door, he walked briskly toward the barn.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Someplace private. I thought we would have more time.” He didn’t want her to leave. Not yet.

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