Crippling arthritis that my father had never once mentioned—not in all the phone calls we’d had, nor during his trips out to California to see me—had hit him so hard, he could no longer hide the pain or physicalchanges.
“I’m fine.”His response was gruff, probably because he was annoyed he couldn’t find his old uniform to wear to the funeral.Part of me was glad he didn’t find it—there wasn’t a single uniform insight.
“We’ll be going soon.We’re almostdonehere.”
He harrumphed andlookedaway.
Well, okay then.This day hadn’t been easy for anyofus.
My brother spoke to all the Hennessys, shaking their hands and kissing Rebecca’s cheek before stepping aside for anothergroup.
Rhett never once looked in my direction.Neversawme.
Because heneverdoes.
I wanted to kick myself for that thought.We were at his father’s funeral, and this wasn’t about me.Nothing that had to do with Rhett Hennessy would ever beaboutme.
As Heath returned to offer his arm to my father, I took a deep breath and gave myself a quickpeptalk.
You can do this.You will not stutter.You will not hiccup.You will be cool, collected, and the badass CEOyouare.
“I’ll be right back.”I turned and took a single step toward the family to offer my condolences as they broke away from the crowd and moved en masse down the cracked sidewalk to a limousine waiting beyond the gates of thecemetery.
I squeezed my eyes shut and spun around again.Great.Now I’m a crap funeral attendee too.It was no surprise I couldn’t manage to get it right.Being awkward was my jam.Designer clothes and fancy shoes would neverchangethat.
“Let’s go,” my brother said, tearing my attention away from the Hennessys.“I want to drop Dad off at my place, and then I’m tracking down Rhett and getting him hammered.No one should have to face a night alone after this fucked-upday.”
3
Rhett
“Mom,you sure you don’t need anything else from Aunt Linda’s before we go?”Rockasked.
Part of me wanted to protest her decision to go back to Vail with him, but it was useless.She’d made uphermind.
“No, we said our good-byes already.She’s keeping everything Idon’ttake.”
Mom’s suitcase was already packed and on the limo floor in front of her.She didn’t have much left thanks to the explosion, so only one bag wasrequired.
Both Rome and I had offered Rock money to cover her expenses, but he wouldn’t take it.Said he could take care of her just fine.Considering I’d been sending extra funds to Mom every month since I left, I didn’t argue with Rock about that either.Rome told him to shut the hell up and spend the money that would show up in his account in a few days on her.Neither Rock nor I wanted to know where the cash was coming from.Rome’s mercenary lifestyle wasn’t a topic of discussion fortoday.
“Why don’t you take the limo to the airport then?”I said to Rock.“Rome and I can jump out at the hotel.”We’d all stayed at Aunt Linda’s last night, on the floor in her living room like we had when we were kids sleeping over.One night was enough of that.I’d checked into a hotel before the service for a few minutes alone to pull myselftogether.
Rome shook his head.“I’m going to the airport too.Got a flight out in a fewhours.”
My attention cut to my little brother.“You’re leaving already?”I didn’t know why I was surprised.The fact that he’d showed up at all was ashock.
“You need me to stick around?You got plans?”Romeasked.
Mom’s gaze locked on me.“He doesn’t have any plans, do you, Rhett?You’re going to let the police sort this out, right?It’s time for you to let go andmoveon.”
I knew what she meant.I’d been living in limbo the last year, drowning my bitterness in whiskey.I told myself that was normal after you losteverything.
“Mom—”
Her expression hardened and she considered each of us.I didn’t know if it was a habit left over from childhood, but we each straightened as shedidit.
“This family has been through hell.First Robin, then ...all of this.”She couldn’t even bring herself to say it, and I didn’t blame her.“We’re Hennessys.We’re strong, we’re resilient, and we won’t let this break us.My life is not ending with your father’s.I refuse toletit.”