Page 50

He watched as Sunny, Bridget, and Julie all caught up. It made him happy. These women were at the center of his world. Being a protector was in his blood, and the magic in each one at this table, Ruby included, called to him.

Abe caught his eye and gave him a knowing nod.

The phone rang, pulling him out of the moment.

“I bet that’s your mom,” Julie said to Ruby.

“Why don’t you take it upstairs?” Abe said.

“Okay,” Ruby said as she stood and scurried away.

As Ruby left, Julie got up and cleared the table.

“Here, let me help,” Sunny said, joining her.

“Since we’re all here, I was wondering if we could have a little chat?” Bridget said.

Asher looked over at Abe with a cocked eyebrow.

“So, I wanted to check back in after what happened here last fall. Do you know where Esther is?”

Abe shook his head. “I know she’s back in Tennessee taking care of some business, but that’s all I know.”

“Hmmm,” hummed Bridget. “Well, that seems a bit suspicious, don’t you think?”

Abe nodded.

“And, Sunny, what is it that brought you back?”

“I learned that the house was going to be deemed abandoned if I left it any longer.”

Bridget nodded. “Is that what the man in the suit was talking to you about?”

“Man in the suit?” said Abe.

His voice was laced with suspicion.

“Yeah, he offered to buy it.”

“But she’s not selling,” Asher answered back quickly.

“Of course I’m not selling,” Sunny said calmly as her hand found his knee under the table.

He gave her hand a squeeze.

“Is it the coal company?” Bridget asked.

“Yeah,” Sunny responded.

“They were trying to buy it at the time of the accident,” Bridget said.

Sunny perked up and looked at her. “How do you know that?”

“I remember talking to Ruth about it. They had been trying all kinds of ways to get to the mountain. After the accident, they backed off . . . but it would seem like they are at it again.”

Sunny bit her lip and turned her gaze down to the table.

That night had changed everything. It made orphans out of the Blacks, and while Sunny had her dad, he was never the same.