Page 12 of The Moment They Can't Forget

“You had a weird look on your face, like this.” His eyes opened, and he sucked in his cheeks.

“You look like a goldfish or constipated.”

He gave her one of his rare smiles.

“Is that a new clock, Mom?” Zoe pointed to a bright red circle on the wall.

“Yes, I found it in Petticoat.”

Petticoat was the only home furnishings place in Lyntacky.

Her mother loved color but had a flair for knowing what looked good, which was likely where Zoe got her interior design skills. One large glass-fronted cabinet on the wall held crockery; another, mugs. An old milk jug in blue-and-white stripes held flowers. Wooden benches had a gleaming red-and-silver coffee maker that she’d bought her mother last year and several other appliances.

“You actually got your flair for design from your father,” her mother said suddenly. “He really had an eye for that kind of thing.”

“What made you say that?” Zoe asked her mom softly.

Her mother’s smile was full of memories. “Like you, he could envision what something would look like without actually seeing it. He was the one who had all the ideas for this place.”

“I wish I remembered him like the others,” Zoe said. Her memories of Leyton Duke were only from the stories her family told her, but inside her there had always been a deep longing for the man she hadn’t known.

“I remember when you were born.” Sawyer cradled his mug of coffee. “Dad said that his boys had been a blessing, but his little girl was a miracle.”

“He loved you so much,” her mother said. “When you were born, he said our family was complete.”

Even after all these years, just thinking about the man she’d married made Robyn Duke’s eyes shine with unshed tears. Now that was love, Zoe thought, and one day she wanted that, but not until she had her life together again.

“Leyton was a man meant to be a father. He used to spend hours outside with the boys, and then when you came along, he’d carry you about while he played with them,” her mom said.

“If I can be half the dad he was, I’ll be happy,” Sawyer said solemnly. “Uncle Asher too. For all he didn’t raise us, he stepped into the role of uncle with ease.”

“He did, and I’ll be forever thankful to my brother,” their mom said. “You’ll be an amazing dad, and when you’re ready, I’ll be happy to be a grandmother again. Now I’m putting in a load of wash. Try not to kill each other.”

“We won’t, Mom,” Zoe and Sawyer said.

“So, back to you,” Sawyer said when she’d left. “Where did you go the night of the engagement party? Ryder told me he saw you creeping down the hall here early the next morning.”

“Nowhere.”

“Don’t lie to me. Ry said you were in the same clothes. Who did you spend the night with?”

“What I do is none of your business,” Zoe hissed. “And Nina dropped me home,” she lied. She’d have to get her friend to cover for her in case anyone asked.

“It’s my business because you’re my little sister,” her brother hissed back.

“You didn’t know what I got up to in Chicago, so you don’t need to know what I get up to here.”

“I know you two are whispering. I just can’t hear what you’re talking about,” their mom said from the next room.

“Nothing,” Zoe said quickly.

“This is not done,” Sawyer said.

“So is, and I’m not a teenager you can bully anymore.”

“Me?” Sawyer clutched his chest. “As if I’d bully you.”

Zoe snorted. “Okay. If you really want to know, I’ll tell you. The night of your engagement party, I went to play cards with the Bandits at the Gray Dog in Sauce and stayed the night. They were real accommodating.”

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