Page 9 of Wildflower and Whiskey
The front door opened, cutting off the silence between us. It was too early for customers, Dad stepped in wearing his police uniform. My father, Pierre Thorne, was all broad shoulders, weathered face, the kind of presence that filled a room without trying. He came by now and then to check in, usually to poke holes in how I ran the place.
“Phoenix,” he greeted, giving me a nod. “Dominic. Cooper.”
“Dad.” I straightened, trying not to sound like the kid who still wanted his approval. Dad was the director of the police force in our town. That’s what we called it in Quebec, the director which meant the police chief. “You hear anything about Chabot lately?”
Dad’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Just answer the question.”
Cooper cleared his throat and muttered something along the lines of, “He’s worried about Elyna.”
I wasn’t sure Dad understood him though he did eye me suspiciously, but then again Dad was always in detective mode.
Dad sighed, scratching his jaw. “Word is he’s been stirring up trouble at the Frosted Mug. Got into it with a couple of guys last night. Kammy threw him out before it got uglier.”
A curse slipped under my breath. Elyna was living with a loose cannon.
Dad gave me a pointed look. “You keep your distance, Phoenix. Chabot’s not your problem.”
But that was the thing. . .he was. Because Elyna was. I wasn’t going to admit those words out loud because I would never hear the end of it from Dad, Dominic, and Cooper. The conversationended abruptly when the front door of the brewery swung open again.
This time it felt like the air shifted. Elyna walked in, shoulders hunched, dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept at all and my chest tightened. I couldn’t stop myself. I stepped forward, blocking her path.
“What happened?” My voice came out rougher than I intended.
She froze, her eyes flicked up to mine. Defensive, guarded. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
But I’d seen enough in my life to know when someone was lying.
“Is Braden okay?” I asked.
“I never told you my son’s name,” she responded being difficult, as usual.
“Isabelle must have mentioned it. She’s been calling me to check up on you,” I confessed.
A small smile curled her lips. “That baby sister of yours is so sweet. How did you not get any of that sweetness?”
I heard Dad chuckling from behind me. Cooper too. Dominic probably thought better of it.
“Good to see you, Elyna,” Dad said, stepping forward. He gave her a hug.
“You too.” She smiled at him warmly. It seemed like she got along with all my family members except for me, and that irritated me too.
“Is everything going okay?” Dad asked her.
“You mean with Papa?” she asked Dad. “I’m guessing you heard about his outburst at the Frosted Mug last night.”
“We got a few calls,” Dad replied. “Elyna, you know you can come stay with me in the main house. Isabelle will be home in a couple of weeks, and she’d love to spend time with you and Braden.”
“That’s a really nice offer, but I can’t accept,” Elyna replied because she was stubborn to her bones. She was prideful too. I couldn’t blame her, I understood pride.
“Well, I best be going,” Dad said, giving us all a curt nod. “That offer is open ended, Elyna.” Dad meant it too. He was the kind of man who was willing to help anyone who needed it, and the main house was a big home with many empty rooms. Dad would have been glad to host them.
“Thanks.” Elyna blinked. She looked tired, her long honey hair was in a high ponytail and her gray eyes looked stormy but still so beautiful.
Dad left.
I followed her down the narrow hall. She pushed into the lounge, dropped her purse onto the counter, and let out a slow breath like she’d been holding it in since sunrise.
