Page 14 of A Place Like You

Gael breaks the heavy silence with a low whistle, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Well, this is just fucking great. Why don’t we go back home and clear our names?”

“We could try, but it’s risky.” Cal’s gaze hardens. “We probably need your help to get all the information from the company—even the things Dad hid from everyone.”

Gael’s brows arch upwards. “So, I’m suddenly a person of interest in your book too?”

“No, but we might need information. Do you think you can help us?”

Cal’s gaze locks with Gael’s, a silent challenge passing between them. I hold my breath, fearing that this could escalate into a heated argument, leaving us even more divided.

“Ask Magnus,” Gael deflects abruptly before striding off, leaving Cal and me alone.

Alone with Cal, a chilling question escapes me. “Do you believe one of us could’ve . . . killed Dad?”

Cal looks at me, his expression serious. He takes a moment to think before answering, carefully selecting his words. “Doubtful, though if one of us did, I wouldn’t blame them. He might’ve brought it upon himself.”

His words send a shiver down my spine, and I can’t help but wonder if any of us could truly be capable of killing our own father.

Chapter Seven

Wren

It’s around five in the evening when Sutton arrives at my place, carrying Daisy in her carrier. Daisy is a pretty Russian Blue cat that Regina rescued a couple of years ago and found her forever home with Sutton.

“Hi?” I greet, my eyes fixed on the carrier.

We usually cat sit for her, but unless there’s an emergency, Sutton gives me weeks, if not months’ notice when she’s going to bring the feline. If I had known, Milo would’ve chosen to stay home tonight. They get along pretty well.

“You forgot, didn’t you?” Sutton rolls her eyes, giving me a “you always forget everything” look. Which might be slightly true, but I wouldn’t use the word always. It’s more like when I’m under stress.

I raise an eyebrow, trying to recall what I might have forgotten that is obviously related to Daisy. “Of course I didn’t,” I lie, reaching out to take the carrier. “I just thought you would be here later. Doesn’t the library close at six?”

“We close at four on weekends, including Fridays,” she reminds me, giving me a skeptical look. “Do you want to keep pretending you know what’s happening, or should I fill you in?”

“Sorry, it’s been a weird day,” I mumble, feeling a tinge of guilt for my forgetfulness.

Sutton scans the living room as she enters the house. “Where’s Milo?”

“Finn’s family is in town, including Charles,” I explain, leading the way to my bedroom, where Daisy usually roams freely before she starts to claim my entire home. “They invited him for a sleepover since his other grandchildren are here too.”

“That sounds like fun, but you don’t seem convinced.” She narrows her gaze, studying me. “What’s bothering you?”

I wave a dismissive hand. “Like I said, it’s been a weird day.”

“You think they’re going to push Milo and you away,” Sutton states, her tone tinged with amusement. “That’s your modus operandi. You’re just waiting for it to happen.”

“Why would they want to keep us around?” I ask without saying that ever since Finn got married, I’ve avoided Charles and him as much as possible.

“Because they welcomed you into their family. Whether you like it or not, you’re a part of it,” Sutton explains, her tone filled with a sense of logic that should make sense to me, but it doesn’t. “I’m impressed you still believe that Jez, Gina, and I won’t dump your ass.”

“You guys are like my sisters.”

“Charles and Finn have been there for you and Milo since day one. I highly doubt they’ll stop acting like his uncle and grandfather.” Sutton sighs, her frustration evident. “So, what else is bothering you?”

She’s probably right. My family is the exception when it comes to how people treat one another. It’s the fear of everyone else resembling them that makes me skittish, causing me to push people away and lump them into the same category: Undesired people.

Sutton, Gina, and Jez are different. We’ve been through so much together. We’ve known each other since we were children. Even when I only visited during summers and occasional Christmases, we maintained constant contact through emails and texts whenever we had access to a computer or phone.

They know every aspect of my life, just as I know everything about theirs. They are the exception to the rule that says: everyone eventually leaves or betrays you—and then leaves again. Everyone.

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