“How long has Laurel worked here?”
“Uh, maybe you should talk to Mom about it.”
“Bree…”
Brianna grimaced. “A long time.”
“Un-fucking-believable,” I muttered, wishing in that moment that Harry was alive just so I could kill him again.
“You really didn’t know?”
I let out a deep sigh and shook my head. “I really didn’t. I didn’t even know she was still living here.”
“Yeah. Everyone knows Laurel. She’s the best.” Brianna laughed. “Unless she’s trying to booze-block you.”
I gave a forced smile, my mind still reeling at this new information. Laurel Anderson, wow. She was somewhere here, right now.
“Noah?”
“Sorry. What?”
“I asked if you were ready to go and see Mom?”
Shit. It would be poor form not to go and check on her and let her know that I was here. “Yes. Let’s go.”
I shoved aside the desire I had to go and find the girl I’d once thought I would marry, and instead followed my sister upstairs. I’d be in town for a few more days, so I had plenty of time to see Laurel if I wanted to.
Hell, who was I kidding? Of course I wanted to. I’d been dreaming about Laurel Anderson for years. She was the bar that was never reached. The fantasy that never disappointed. She was the one girl who had gotten away—or had been ripped away—and before I left town, I was going to track her down and see just how good my memory was.
Until then—knock, knock, knock—I was going to be a good son.
“Come in.” My mom’s soft voice was instantly recognizable, and as I slowly opened the door to one of the guest rooms of the winery, I spotted her standing by one of the large windows that overlooked the sprawling vineyards.
She wore a black A-line dress with an elegant hat and veil to match, and her dark hair was pulled into a tight, prim knot at the back of her neck. She looked the very image of a grieving widow, and her slight frame appeared even smaller than usual as she turned to face the two of us.
“Noah.”
“Mom.”
She clasped her hands in front of herself as she looked between Brianna and myself, and then she walked across the room to stop in front of us.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come. When you weren’t at the funeral, I just assumed…”
She had every reason to think that way, and I had every reason to stay gone. But I loved my mom, and there’d been no way I wasn’t going to be here for her.
I reached for her hands and took them in mine. “Of course I was going to come.”
Her delicate features softened as her somber eyes assessed me in a quick once-over, the way that mothers do, then she offered up a broken smile.
“You look well.”
“I feel well,” I responded, but I realized that might seem callous. “Except for—”
“Stop, Noah. I don’t need you to pretend you’re upset. I’ll be sad enough for the both of us. I’m just glad you’re here. Your brothers and sister need you. I need you.”
I looked to Brianna, who was nodding at me, and smiled. “Then I’m happy to be here.”
“Good. Did you already stop by the house and drop your things off?”
I hadn’t, actually. I’d come straight here, since I’d already missed the funeral, but it didn’t matter anyway. There was no way I was going to stay in his house ever again.
“I came straight from the airport.”
“You must be exhausted.”
I smirked. “I thought you said I looked well.”
“You do. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t tired.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll catch up on sleep tonight. I just wanted to be here and make sure you’re okay.” I also needed to see if there was a room in town that I could book at the last minute.
“I appreciate that. Did you see your brothers on the way in?”
“Ryan, yes. I haven’t seen Justin yet, though. Bree said he was down at—”
“Gallagher’s.”
At the sound of a fourth voice entering the conversation, we all turned to see Justin standing in the doorway with his hands shoved in his pockets and his eyes narrowed on me.
“Well, if it isn’t my big brother Noah. At least, I think you’re Noah, right? I haven’t seen you in… Actually, I can’t remember the last time I saw you. Nice to know you at least come home for a death in the family.”
“Justin,” Mom said from behind me.
“What? It’s true. The last time I saw him I was, what? In high school.”
The words were thrown out as though he didn’t give a shit one way or another, but the icy undertone spoke volumes. There was true resentment there, and I couldn’t blame him one bit.
“If anyone wants me, I’ll be looking for some booze to finish the job I started on my way over here.”
As he turned and left the room, I had an insane urge to go with him. A few drinks sounded like heaven about now, but I doubted he’d want my company. Brianna looked between Mom and me, and it was clear she wanted to go after him. I knew from our emails that the two of them were close, and when Mom nodded, Brianna dashed out of the room, leaving the two of us in her wake.
I could hear the sounds of voices traveling up the stairs, and as we stood there, my mother did something she hadn’t done in years. She reached for my hand and squeezed. A silent symbol of strength and solidarity, one I’d always cherished and one I hadn’t realized I’d missed, or needed, until this very moment.
4
Laurel
“THERE YOU ARE, hon. I’ve been looking for you all over.”
So much for my stealthy re-entrance. I should’ve known that Miss Betty would spot me trying to sneak my way back inside. She had a knack for these kinds of
