Page 51 of The Hermit on the Hill

There was so much venom in his voice my blood ran cold, even as my heart ached for the little boy he'd been. All alone and scared.

"That's shitty." Genuine sympathy laced George's voice. "I'm sorry that happened. Sorry I didn't… I don't know. Sorry I didn't help you out back then."

Sam's shoulders dropped. "Wasn't your place. You were just a kid. It was your parents who screwed us over. Every adult in this town turned their backs on my grandmother when she needed them the most."

The house creaked and Sam tensed, as though waiting for a door to slam or something to fall off a wall, but silence reigned as we all watched George digest what Sam had just told him.

George nodded. "Makes sense now why you're such a grumpy asshole."

"That gonna change?" Cody asked. "Now you're going to be a dad, are you going to make nice with folks and stop threatening to shoot anyone who gets too close?"

Sam sat. "Don't need to make nice to be a good dad."

"That's not entirely true." Carrie's gentle smile held empathy. "I remember you, Sam. I'm sorry I never said anything, but I thought maybe you didn't want anyone to know you were one of us."

"I've never been one of you."

"But your son will be. If you and Jenna decide to raise him here, he'll be a part of this town. I love Catalpa Creek. Most of the people here are good people, but I've also seen the darker side. I've seen kids ostracized because of who their parents are. I've seen this town band together to help someone in need, and I've seen this town turn their backs on someone in need for no good or fair reason. It's not right, but it's human nature. Don't put your son at a disadvantage because of something awful the town did a generation ago."

Sam ran a hand through his hair, and the sadness on his face made me want to wrap my arms around him. I wondered how long it had been since someone had hugged him for no other reason than to offer comfort.

"The folks who turn their backs on my son because they've got a grudge against me wouldn't have been there for him in the long run, anyway," Sam said. "Better he learns early what hides behind folks' smiles and self-righteousness."

Carrie sighed. "Can you at least forgive me and George? I don't want to be cut out of my nephew's life because of something ignorant our parents did."

"I wouldn't do that." Sam's voice was rough. "I would never keep you from your nephew. Jenna is my family now, which makes you my family. I'm not expecting to be invited to family dinners, but you're always welcome here." He looked at the rest of them. "All of you are welcome." He paused. "Show up again with syrup and feathers, though, and Iwillshoot you."

The doorbell rang, and Sam left to get the pizza. Cody and Noah and George all got to their feet to offer money, but Sam waved them away.

May hurried over and sat on the arm Sam had vacated. "Are you okay with this? Is he being good to you?"

"He moved me in here and he—"

"Wait," Cody said. "He forced you to move in here?"

I rubbed a hand over my face. Damn it. How did I get myself into these messes? "Don't tell Mom, but I don't actually have a job at the university yet."

"You mean they hired you on a trial basis?" George asked. "Like you're a visiting professor?"

"No. They're cutting positions in the humanities as it is. They don't have a place for another history professor, especially one with a specialty in folklore."

Sam walked back in as May said, "But you moved to Catalpa Creek, anyway?"

"I want to raise my son close to his family. I'll figure out a job. Or maybe I'll write a book. I'll figure out something."

"But you don't have to," Sam said. "I'll make sure you have everything you need."

"You don't have to live with this guy," Cody said. "You can stay at our place. Or we'll build you a cabin near the inn."

"Thank you," I said. "But I'll be fine. I'll just stay here with Sam for a few weeks until I get a job and get back into my own place. Everything will be great."

"My brother is the best person I know," Brittany said. She and Jared had been silently taking in the conversation. "I know he can be gruff and he has zero manners, but he'd die for this kid and he's not even born yet. You don't need to worry about your sister or your nephew."

"And Jenna's not an idiot," Jared said. "If she says she's good, she's good."

"Fine." Cody relaxed back into his seat, his expression easing. "But we'll be watching you, Sam. Give us one reason, and we'll be back here with a whole lot worse than syrup and feathers."

"I found a place we can get actual tar," George said, but the rest of them ignored him.

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