Page 80 of Finding Home with You

“Good.”

Joe and I spend the rest of the afternoon getting things organized for how we’re finally going to catch Macklin. The plan is for the whole thing to happen within the next day or so, which feels far too soon to me.

“You want to grab a drink?” he asks, just as we’re wrapping everything up.

“Nah,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m heading back to Rockport, sorry.”

“Chris up there?”

“Yeah,” I say, laughing. “If Erin hasn’t somehow killed him with her all bitching anyway.”

“Well good luck with everything,” he says. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yep, night.”

I head over to my apartment to grab some more clothes before heading back up to Rockport. On the way, I call Beck to fill him in on everything, even though Finn has already covered most of it. I feel a bit bad that I didn’t tell him and Kelsey about the car accident, but everything feels as though it’s been happening so fast, there just hasn’t been time.

I don’t mention the baby though, knowing Erin and I haven’t discussed whether we’re telling people yet.

The house in mostly in darkness by the time I finally arrive and Chris is in the living room, quietly watching TV.

“Hey,” I say, as I walk in. “Everything go okay?”

He stands, switches off the TV and walks toward me. “Yeah, all good,” he says. “Your sister arrived and apart from her going to get some food, neither of them left the house.”

Shit, I forgot Sarah was coming down. “They didn’t give you too much grief, did they?”

Chris laughs a little. “Well, no, not exactly.”

“Don’t worry,” I say, laughing as I give him a slap on the shoulder. “I know they can both be pains in the ass so I do appreciate you putting up with it all day.”

“I’m not touching that one,” he says, heading for the front door. “The inn, it’s the big one down by the beach, right?” he asks, enquiring about Kelsey’s place where he’ll be staying tonight.

“Yep,” I confirm. “You okay for six tomorrow morning? Sorry it’s so early.”

“All good,” he says. “Night.”

After Chris leaves, I head back to Erin’s bedroom. She’s left a side light on but is fast asleep in bed. After taking a quick shower, I slide in beside her, wondering when the hell I am going to have the conversation about her helping us take down her ex-boyfriend and her father’s right-hand man.

Fuck.

“How was work?” she mumbles sleepily as she rolls over and rests her head on my shoulder.

I take a deep breath, knowing this is as good a time as any to start the conversation that half of me wants to have and the other half of me wants to ignore. “Productive,” I say, wrapping my arm around her. “Seems like your little trip to see your dad had some effect.”

“How so?”

“We’ve got a lead,” I tell her.

Erin lifts her head. “You do?”

I nod. “You ever hear of a Hamish Donnelly?” I ask her.

Erin shakes her head. “Nope.”

“Well, your dad called him from prison to set up a job.”

“A job?” she asks. “Or a hit?”