Bailey looked at Ryan, but he didn’t look back at her, so she looked over at Mae.
Mae nodded her head. “Bay, that shop isn’t going anywhere. I’ll be fine if you stay here for a few days.”
“I can help, too, Bailey. I can help out at the shop,” Vince said, and that gained him a dirty look from Ryan.
Bailey chuckled. “You’re going to help at the shop? Really?”
He shrugged with a grin. “What else is an old, retired guy to do?”
“I can help, too, if she needs me, Bailey,” Lucas offered.
She felt backed into a corner. She turned to Ryan again, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. She had just done the payroll for the shop and El Lago, so she didn’t need to worry about that. Bailey glanced up to see Alex. He was watching her with a crinkle between his brows and anxious eyes.
Linda looked earnest, too, and, after a moment, she said, “Ryan, of course, is also welcome to stay.”
Alex’s head turned toward his wife, and he didn’t look pleased. Linda lifted her chin and squeezed Bailey’s hand. “I understand. I do. You’ve been through hell.” When her voice broke, she closed her eyes for a moment. “The circumstances are not ideal, but we’re a family, and we’ll come together.” She glanced over at her husband then back to Bailey and said, “If Ryan being by your side makes it easier, he’s welcome to stay, as well.”
* * *
She felt like they had driven for hours. Alexander Spatz’s home was outside the city in a more rural area of Sacramento. The house was situated in the center of a grove of trees, gated and set off the street. The trees protected the house from prying eyes and left it mostly in shadows. It was a large house, white and two-story, well-cared for and clean. Maroon shutters flanked the windows. A porch wrapped around the house, which was decorated with overflowing flower pots, adding vibrant color. The gates were open, so Ryan drove straight through. Bailey looked around and thought if things had worked out differently, she might have grown up here.
Ryan parked in front of the house, and before they were out of the car, Linda appeared on the porch. “Well, come into the warm house. It’s cold out here.” Linda said, waving her hand. “Alex and the boys are in the family room waiting to meet you, Bailey.”
Bailey smiled and tried to relax as she stepped inside the double front doors and into the foyer. The absence of any mention of her sister hadn’t gone unnoticed. She glanced at Ryan with a raised eyebrow. He shrugged as if to say he didn’t understand either. She looked away from Ryan and around the large house. There were rooms on either side of the foyer, and directly in front was a sweeping wood-framed staircase. Linda walked to the left and into a large room where two very tall men stood with Alex.
“Bailey, these are your brothers. James is the oldest. He’s twenty-four. Stanley here,”— Linda gripped his arm—“is our baby. He’s twenty.”
James approached her first and held out his hand for her to shake. Afterward, he introduced himself to Ryan, who smiled charmingly at them. James was tall, blond, and very handsome. His eyes were blue, like Linda’s, but colder. His narrow face was like hers, as well.
James’ smile faded, and his new expression did nothing to put her at ease. His eyes traveled her from head to toe, and she became increasingly uneasy about her choice in clothes. Maybe she should have worn a dress instead of jeans and boots. He did the very same with Ryan, but she wasn’t sure Ryan noticed the condescension.
When Stanley approached, he put her much more at ease. His relaxed posture and smile were charming and playful. He was the spitting image of his father, with dark hair and a smile like Bailey’s. He was broader than James, and Bailey thought he must be an athlete. Instead of the customary handshake, he gave her a light hug.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Thank you so much,” she said with all sincerity. “This is Ryan.”
“Ryan, great to meet you, too,” Stanley said, smiling and shaking his hand. “I’ve seen you play at El Lago. You’re really great.”
Ryan nodded with a huge smile. “Thank you.”
“Well, let’s have a seat,” Linda said. “I’ll go get some refreshments.”
Once they were seated, Bailey looked around the room. She wanted to fit in. She wanted to feel at home. But she didn’t. When her eyes landed on the mini grand piano, though, she smiled and instantly felt better.
“Do you play piano?” Bailey asked, gesturing to the instrument.
“No.” Alex brushed his hand and smirked. “Linda attempted to learn a couple years ago, but it bored her quickly.”
“Oh…” she said.
“Do you play?” Stanley asked.
She shook her head. “Um, well, I know how. I mean, I know the basics, but I’m not very good. I tried, but couldn’t quite…” She grinned and closed her eyes briefly, picturing her mother playing. “No rhythm. My mother…uh…Helen Morton was a music teacher. She played every day. Ryan plays beautifully, though.”
“Was?” James said. “Your mother doesn’t teach any longer?”
“No.” Bailey shook her head. “She passed away last summer.”
“Oh, sorry…” James said.
“Sorry, Bailey,” Stanley said. “It must be difficult losing a parent.”
Bailey fought not to laugh. Not that any of this was funny, just extremely uncomfortable. How odd would it have been to point out she’d lost both parents, even when her father was sitting with her? And even stranger, she’d technically lost three parents, if you included Theresa Spatz.
Even so, she couldn’t help but smile at the irony.
“This is pretty weird,” Stanley said with a chuckle.
Bailey finally laughed. “Right? Very weird.” At least one of them got it.
She glanced around again just as a confirmation that her sister hadn’t bothered to attend the meeting. “I guess Nicole decided—”
“Oh, yes, Nicole couldn’t make it today,
