Page 24 of Traces Of You

“Not surprising.” Seemed like Reenie’s mother was a real piece of shit.

“I don’t know if I ever heard anything about Reenie’s father. Do you know who or where he is?” his mother asked.

“No. It never came up back then.” He wasn’t sure it mattered now either, but he’d ask when he had a chance.

“She’ll be here soon,” Gale said. “I’ll meet with her privately.”

“I want to be there.” He had to know everything there was.

“No,” Gale said. “If you want her to trust us, then you need to give her space. You know as well as I do, what she says to me, I don’t have to tell you. She’ll be my client.”

His fingers curled into his palm. “Don’t play games, Gale.”

“I’m not. You obey the law and so do I.”

Clay snorted. “Is he really obeying the law having her here?”

Ford took a step toward his brother, but his mother jumped between them. “Enough. Clay, you’re baiting him, why?”

“Because I want you all to see he’s losing his cool. Heneverloses his cool.”

Fuck. That was twice now.

“Your brother is right,” his father said. “You need to get a grip or you’re no good to her.”

“I’ll be fine,” he argued. “I only do it around you. I’ve never lost it with anyone else. Never on the job.”

It was one thing he prided himself on.

“Ford is right,” Gale said. “He’ll be fine. But it tells us you’ve got feelings for her still.”

“Puppy love,” Clay said.

He swung around. “Enough, Clay,” his mother said. “I mean it. I’m not sure what your problem is, but you’ll behave withReenie around. She doesn’t need to think she’s causing family drama.”

“This isn’t drama,” Clay said. “This is how we always are.”

“When you were kids. You’re adults and haven’t acted like this since you’ve been home,” his father said. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” Clay said.

His brother crossed his arms. That was a sign he was shutting down.

Like he’d been for the eighteen months since he’d returned.

He’d have to get to the bottom of that at some point too.

His mother pulled the oven open. He saw the roast in there. Then she stirred the pot on the stove. Probably mashed potatoes. There’d be a vegetable too.

The memories of big family dinners and laughter-filled conversations around the kitchen table were etched into his mind, impossible to forget.

They’d always continue for years to come too.

“When will Reenie be here?” Gale asked.

“I told her six,” Clay said. “That it’d give us time to talk.”

“I told you everything I know,” he said. “I’m going to get her and check in to see if she’s okay.”