The birds chirped as I sat on the back deck of the house, overlooking the pool. It was early, and I soaked up as much of the peace as I could. It had been a rough few weeks. Ones that I never wanted to repeat as long as I lived.
My phone rang. I had left it on the counter the night we’d run, and since I had no use for it, it hadn’t bothered me to be unplugged for a while. The girls had gone home to the clubhouse, but Grace had started calling every morning to check in.
The shrill sound rang again. This time, I picked it up. “Morning,” I said, not bothering to look at the screen. I had Grizz delete all the messages and voicemails from my phone, and since I had returned, no one was looking for me.
“Morning, Auntie. How are you?”
“I should…ask you the…same.”
“Okay, I guess. I go about my day until something makes me think of Dad. In the next instant, I remember he’s dead, and it all comes crashing down.”
I’d had my fair share of days like that. “You’re grieving. Sabre?”
“Good. He’s sympathetic, but there’s no love lost there. He hasn’t said anything, but I think he’s relieved that we don’t have an insider leak anymore.”
“Me, too.” I’d mourn Gerry as my brother-in-law, someone I’d spent a lot of years close to, but I would never forget the times he’d sold all of us out. “Mer?”
“The club picked up on her silence, and they’re not leaving her to wallow. They constantly force her into conversation. She has her moments, though, and I’ve noticed Grizz’s hoodie is back.”
“Talking,” I said, relief clear in my voice. Meredith had gone silent from the time the police officer had left until we’d buried Gerry a few days later. No matter how many times we tried, we couldn’t get her to respond. It warmed my heart to know the club had taken her in as one of their own. “Scared…silent.”
“I know. When Meredith has had enough, Grizz takes her out to the work shed.” Grace huffed into the phone. “Are you coming back?”
“Why would…you ask?”
“Sabre said I shouldn’t say anything, but you’ve been gone two weeks, since the funeral.”
I chuckled, but the sound held no happiness. “Sabre right.”
“I’m not telling him that. Neither one of you said anything, but there’s something going on between you and Thunder. You seem so distant from each other. Do you want us to come for the weekend?”
“No.” Grace had packed the rest of her belongings from the pool house, and as long as the girls had what they wanted from their father’s house, I didn’t see the need for them to come.
“Auntie—“
“No.” This time, I laughed in amusement. “We’ll be fine. Don’t come.”
The patio door slid open, and Thunder sat on the lounger, facing me. He’d stayed with me, and while we slept in the same bed, we didn’t touch. There was a brick wall between us, only growing higher as each day passed.
“I could talk Sabre into it, but I’d have to tell him you said we should.” She lowered her voice, pretending to sound like him. “I don’t get involved in family matters.”
“No, Grace.” I shook my head. “Love you,” I said before hanging up on her. I put the phone on the glass table next to me before sliding to the edge of the lounger. “Morning.”
“Morning.” He propped his elbows on his knees. “How are they?”
“Same.” It was easier to loop all of them into one category rather than trying to detail everything out. If there had been any changes, I would have told him. “She’s worried.”
He said nothing, and I could feel him watching me, but I didn’t turn in his direction.
“Thinks I’m not…coming back.”
Silence settled between us. He hadn’t pushed for answers, but I couldn’t help but wonder if he was afraid our marriage was over and I’d stay in my prison because it was easier.
“Told her…to stay. Don’t need…help to sell.”
“Sell?”
“House.”