Page 111 of Bourbon and Secrets

been worried about how you’d feel. She’s not Mom?—”

But Lark cuts me off, “We were lucky to have Mommy for as long as we did.” She wipes away the tears as she lets her sister rest her chin on her shoulder.

Lily hands her one of her gemstone rocks. “Here, Lark. An onyx rubbing stone for courage.”

Olivia and I were broken before she died—our relationship had lost so much of what made us happy as a couple, but she was an amazing mother. She was the kind of mom a man hopes his kids luck out having. I would always be grateful to her for that. For them. I’m so proud as I watch them work through this—creating space for someone new.

“She loved you very much. More than anything.”

Lark sniffs, and then smiles at me. “I think Mom would want us to have more of that feeling—of someone else loving us and wanting to spend time with us.”

“You two are pretty great,” I say, rubbing my hand along Lily’s back.

“Obviously,” Lily whispers.

Lark smiles at her sister and rubs her thumb along the smooth black surface of the stone. “Dad, you’re my best friend in the whole world.” Pausing, her brow pinches as she says, “I liked Faye from the first minute we met her. I was nervous she’d take all your time. But I know that won’t happen now. I just don’t want to be sad again—love someone, just to have them taken away.”

My stomach sinks at hearing that, because I feel that too. I swallow the lump in my throat and look up, trying to stop more tears from falling. “We have a great life, just the three of us.I didn’t want to find someone else to add to this. We’ve been figuring things out pretty okay on our own, yeah?”

Lily wipes at her eyes as she nods.

Lark chuckles, looking at me knowingly. “But then Faye showed up.”

“Knocked me right on my butt,” I say with a smile.

“Dad, is that why you hated her at first?” Lily asks, always so curious.

They don’t need to know the details of how we started, but I can be honest enough here. “I didn’t know her. I had an idea about her that ended up being wrong.” I suck in a deep breath. “I’m scared too. Loving someone and them leaving. Or not coming back. But if she does?—”

Lark chimes in to finish the rest. “Then you’re going to make sure she knows how much we want her here.”

“Yeah, kiddo, then I'll make sure she knows how much we want her to stay. And how much I plan on loving her.”

“We,” Lily corrects. “How muchweplan on loving her.”

Chapter 42

Faye

There aresixty-four horses living on Hideaway Rescue ranch. Four dogs, a couple of barn cats, and two dozen chickens. A highland cow would round it out nicely. I smile at the thought of Dottie—the way Lark and Lily are probably enjoying having her so close to their house. It’s beautiful and quiet here, just like Mom said. It’s been just over two weeks, and I still haven’t seen the entirety of the property. The snow that flurried in this morning was normal here in late February, according to Mom. The cold mornings transitioned into brisk days that were always accompanied by deceivingly bright sunshine.

“The silverback over to the left likes to be in charge; she’s been here the longest. She was pretty thin when she arrived, but somehow, she ended up being the one to heal me. I think watching her get stronger helped me do the same,” Mom says as we sit and swing on her porch.

“It’s beautiful here,” I say as I close my eyes and let the sun warm my face.

“You miss him,” Maggie says. It’s not a question, it’s an observation.

“I love him,” I tell her on a sigh.

“He’s a good man, Faye,” Mom says, searching for my hand. With a squeeze, she says, “If there was anyone I could have picked for you, it would have been Lincoln Foxx.”

I smile, looking down at our hands when I ask, “Why is that?”

“He always leans in—to hugs, to his family. It’s something that I thought set him apart from his brothers most. He was a lot like Griz in that way—a natural storyteller, could captivate a room full of people without even trying, and he’s very good looking.”

“She’s right,” Maggie agrees with an eyebrow wiggle that has me laughing.

I lean my head on my mom’s shoulder, knowing that I won’t be able to do this whenever I want or maybe even ever again. She may not have the threat of Waz King any longer, but Wheeler Finch is too connected, whether he’s behind bars or not. The same is true for Maggie. I’m the wild card—I’m not a threat to him, as far as he knows. Anything regarding his case is tied to Maggie. Del, along with Bea and Cortez, will all make sure of that.

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