He wanted to ask her about her journey, but whenever he left an opening in the conversation for her to fill, she avoided it. He had no doubt that her own journey had been just as harrowing as his. They had time. When she felt more comfortable, he’d ask again about what she’d been through to get back home.
At the end of the lane, he saw his family hunched in a tight circle. Jade stood close by with her attention focused on the rustic hotel. Patton’s dark head popped up, and then suddenly he was running toward them. When he reached them, he flung himself into Kathleen’s arms. She let out a startled cry. Her bicycle clattered to the ground. She clutched at Patton as though he were her lifeline.
Matthew smiled softly upon seeing their reunion and met Kathleen’s tearful eyes. He knew the feeling. He’d been so terrified for the safety of his children that when he finally saw them safe and sound, he had a hard time trusting it was true. Now that his family was safe and whole once more, he wanted to cling to them and never let them go.
Matthew heard gravel crunch behind him, and he turned to see Allison. She had her hands shoved in her pockets and looked somewhat shy, as if she was intruding. Matthew wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you,” he whispered in her hair. “I know you took care of your mother.”
Allison nodded, even though she shivered against him, as though her fear was finally leaving her. Behind her, Ruth and David watched their reunion with pride. Matthew wanted to bask in this moment forever. They were all together. Yet, even though he knew they were safe, the threats of the outside world still sat in the back of his mind.
He pulled back from his daughter and looked at Kathleen and Patton. “Let’s go inside,” he said to his family. “We have a lot to discuss.”
Kathleen nodded, let go of Patton, and stood up. She picked up her bicycle, and Patton grabbed the one Matthew held. Letting out a shaky sigh, she said, “I’m so happy to see everyone is safe.”
“Grandma and I tried,” Patton cut in, sounding unnaturally stern. “We really tried to keep the hotel safe.”
“You did a great job, honey,” Kathleen said, and she leaned down to push hair off of Patton’s forehead.
Patton still looked concerned, as if Kathleen had misunderstood him.
“C’mon, buddy,” Matthew said, gesturing to Ruth and David. “Let’s get Grandma and Grandpa inside. We need to figure out our next move.”
Patton turned the serious look to his father and nodded in agreement. Matthew felt a tightness in his throat and he wondered where his carefree son had gone. While Samuel hadn’t succeeded in taking the hotel from them, he had stolen other irreplaceable things. Matthew only hoped that Patton could get back his youthful joy.
They walked toward Ruth, David, and Jade. Kathleen hugged Ruth and David. Ruth laughed and brushed her tears away. Again, Matthew felt whole. As if now that his family was back together, he’d do anything to keep them that way. He watched Kathleen’s brow furrow as she seemed to consider Jade, who was watching the family reunion from a short distance. He knew that look. Kathleen was displeased.
“We need to have a family meeting,” Matthew said, looking away from his wife. “I need to sit down and go through what we need to do next.”
“Me too,” David said. “My feet hurt, and I think it’s a great idea to make a plan. How does the lounge sound?”
“Perfect,” Matthew said, and he took up the rear as the Riley clan began to walk inside. Jade turned to follow them inside, but Kathleen stood and crossed her arms, blocking her path. Matthew felt her nudge his arm, and then she said in a low tone to Jade, “This is a family meeting. We need our privacy.”
Jade looked confused and a bit sad. “Oh,” she said, as if struggling to find the right words. “Would it be okay if I provide some input? Help out a little?”
Kathleen’s eyes narrowed, and she scowled. “Are you part of the Riley family?” she asked.
David had paused in the doorway and was watching the exchange. Matthew felt the tension in the air and knew from his wife’s tells that her distrust was swiftly morphing into anger.
“No,” Jade said and swallowed hard.
“Then you won’t be coming to our family meeting,” Kathleen said, as if that settled the matter. “Don’t you have someplace else you need to be? Your own family to find?”
Matthew cleared his throat, but David stepped in. “Now, Kathleen,” he began, “I think we can include Jade in our discussion. We will have to figure out her role in all of this, too.”
“Why?” Kathleen demanded. She looked to Matthew as if begging for his support.
Matthew’s mouth went dry. His mind went blank. He didn’t know what to say or even what to do. A couple of hours earlier, he would have backed Kathleen one hundred percent. That was before he knew that Jade had helped David when his father was sick and dying on the road from a gunshot wound. It also happened to be Jade who had caused said
