Page 90 of Wyatt

Huh. She hadn’t thought about that before. “Wyatt has always seemed a mystery to me. I missed a lot of his growing-up years, with him playing away from home.”

“Yes. Maybe that wasn’t the best idea, but your father saw his potential and wanted to give him every opportunity to succeed. It was hard on him—Orrin wanted him to live at home, but he knew he couldn’t move our entire family to invest in Wyatt’s sport, so he found a friend in Helena who Wyatt could live with.” She picked up her soda. “Problem was, your father never did feelings well. He hardened himself from Wyatt in an effort to let him go. I’m not sure Wyatt ever got that. I think he felt distant from our family because of it.”

“Is that why you didn’t come down hard on him after Ford found him and Coco in the barn?”

Her mother fingered her napkin. “No. He was a grown man by then. In college. Besides, I knew he was in love with her. And frankly, Coco was in love with him. A little embarrassment goes a long way. I do know that something happened between them—maybe at Christmas. Maybe at your father’s funeral. Maybe they had a fight, I don’t know. Whatever it was, it made her leave, and for that I regretted not stepping in. Maybe I should have protected her more.”

RJ reached across the table to squeeze her mother’s hand. “Is this what this road trip is about? Protecting me just a little longer?”

Her mother winked, then wadded up her food wrappers. “Maybe I am hoping to meet this York fellow.”

“He texted me this morning. Asked me to meet him in Seattle.”

Her mother raised an eyebrow.

“It’s not likethat, Ma. He’s probably got information to help me—”

Her mother made a humming sound, nodding.

“What?”

“I knew something lit a fire under you. Now I know why God nudged me awake and told me to pack my bag.”

“Oh brother.”

Her mother winked at her again and grabbed her trash. “Let’s get moving. I need to set up my surveillance.”

RJ laughed. Her mother didn’t.

Now she knew where she inherited her superspy genes. “Please don’t tell me that you brought a weapon.”

“Then don’t look in the glove box.” Her mother slid into the passenger seat. “I didn’t get a conceal and carry if I didn’t intend to use it.”

Huh.

“Where are we going?”

“The Renaissance Hotel.”

“I hope I brought enough ammo.”

“Oh for crying in the sink.”

Her mother grinned.

Mid-afternoon traffic was light as they hit Seattle and wound their way downtown. RJ spotted the Space Needle in the distance rising over the skyline.

“There’s the parking garage,” her mother said, looking up from her phone, where she’d been navigating.

RJ pulled in, the clearance just over the Silverado’s roof.

She wasn’t sure how long she might be staying, or…well, the entire thing felt a little weird.

So maybe she didn’t mind having her mother along. Could be better than a brother.

Or even alone. Because yes, she trusted York. But she didn’t know…well, maybe he was right.

She didn’t exactly know him that well.

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