Page 48 of Son of a Preacher Man

Chain-smoking now, Babs?

“Trauma dumping—oversharing—is a manipulation tactic. It’s one-sided and done impulsively. We commonly see it in clients with narcissistic personality disorder, and that’s not you. Is it sympathy you’re looking for?”

“No.”

“Didn’t think so.” She leaned in closer to the screen. “An ongoing, mutual exchange of sharing your stories over an extended period of time, an open dialogue, transparency—all of that builds intimacy between you and Kelly. It’s learning about each other. You’re in the discovery phase of a new relationship.”

His laugh brisk, Kodiak scoffed, “She’s got a lot to discover, doesn’t she?”

“That she does,” Barbara conceded. “But it’s where you’ve been, what you’ve experienced, that’s made you the man you are today. And you, Seth, are a good man.”

Not quite.

The wrongness in him would always be there.

Because he couldn’t undo what he’d done.

Every year on Thanksgiving, the Park Place enclave prepared a feast and came together just as any family would. Because no matter by blood or by choice, that’s what they all were to each other. Family. And they’d adopted him as one of their own.

Kodiak couldn’t understand it, honestly. If anything, they should despise him, but they didn’t. Yeah, but what if they knew the whole truth? What then? At the lowest moment of his life, they saved him. Cared for him. Maybe it was because they all loved his sister, or because Bo wouldn’t have it any other way, regardless, he was welcomed into the fold.

The love, the warmth, the genuine camaraderie—the dynamic in this room was a thing he might’ve envied once. But then growing up as he had, Kodiak never knew it existed. He was grateful to know it now.

Surveying the assemblage from Kit’s funky sofa of bright purple velvet, Kodiak took it all in. Bo, missing his Ava, sat on one side of him, Kelly on the other. That she did so, pleased him. It was where she belonged and right where he wanted her to be.

Planted on the opposite end, Dillon watched the game. Well, kind of. Fighting to keep his eyes open, he succumbed to the tryptophan coma. His belly stuffed full, Kodiak was feeling the after-effects of turkey and all the trimmings himself.

He looked on. Linnea’s fingers in her brother-in-law’s hair, she casually stroked the shaggy mop on his head as he snoozed. This was the first holiday gathering without Kyan, and his absence was keenly felt by everyone, but even more so by his sister and his friend. Being with them every day, he saw first-hand how much they were hurting. Those two comforted each other in a way that no one else could, and he couldn’t help but notice how good they were together. Smiling to himself, Kodiak saw a future for them, even if they didn’t see it yet, and knew with the passing of time they’d both be okay.

With a toss of her head, Kelly tsked. Distracting him, he followed her gaze. Kevin, still miffed he’d lost out on his chance with Ava, steered clear of Venery’s drummer, instead attaching himself to baby Declan, his sister, and her husband. Deep in conversation, it was obvious the kid idolized his brother-in-law, just as it was readily apparent his aunt did not like that he did.

For as long as he’d known her, Kelly barely tolerated Brendan—or Dillon either, for that matter. Seemingly on guard, she’d tense up in their presence, making no attempt to hide her disdain. He’d witnessed it on several occasions. Bo and the Venery boys she was okay with, but not them. He didn’t get it. As far as Kodiak knew, there was no good reason to warrant it.

“Going to the restroom,” she clipped. “Be right back.”

“Okay.” Without thinking, he kissed her cheek.

Bo chuckled under his breath.

“What?”

“You…” His fingers waving between him and Kelly’s retreating backside, Bo’s face split into a grin. “…and the ice queen?”

“Shut up, Bo-Bo.” Kodiak gave him a good-natured elbow to the ribs. “And don’t call her that.”

“I should’ve known something was up when you dragged me to Beanie’s,” he said, slapping his thigh. “Does Linn know?”

“There’s nothing for her to know, and until there is…”

His brow raised, Bo shot him a look.

“It’s complicated, all right?” And he wasn’t about to explain it now. At least not here.

“I get it, man.”

Nursing his Glenlivet on the rocks, Kodiak chanced a glance down the hallway. Chandan and Elliott chased after Emery, who went crashing into Kelly the moment she emerged from the bathroom. The rambunctious tykes halted in their pursuit. Not bothered in the slightest, she picked the stunned little girl up from the floor and soothed her, combing Emery’s hair back into place with her fingers.

Bo looked over at Kelly holding his daughter. The corner of his mouth quirked up, and with a shake of his head, he chuckled. “Nope, never woulda thunk it.”

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