Her Wilde Marines (Wilde, Nevada 4)

She couldn’t tell her grandmother the truth. It would crush her. Better to dodge her questions. “You and Grandpa are the only family we have left. We aren’t going to stop coming around. A change of scenery will help my girls and me. I’ve got friends in Destiny. You remember Shelby Taylor.”

“I do. She was good to Samantha. I didn’t know you two had gotten close though.”

Even after all that happened with Samantha and Lily, the town still embraced Emma and somehow that made her feel hopeful. She’d reconnected with Shelby at the funeral, and the sweet woman had continued to call her every day.

Their talks had helped, though she hadn’t told even Shelby her worst fears or about the voices she was hearing in the night.

Her grandmother sighed. “Your momma’s hometown helped your daddy for a while, baby. It’s a good place with good people.”

She grabbed her grandmother’s hand. “I just need a fresh start. I’ve always loved Wilde. I’d like to raise my daughters there.” There was more to it than that but she wasn’t ready to tell her grandmother about her fears of losing her mind. Not now anyway.

“Do you have a job or a place to live?”

“Not yet, but I have some savings. I just need you and Grandpa to watch the girls for me.”

“Of course. We love our two little angels. If it doesn’t work out the way you want, Em, you can come home. This big house is more than enough for all of us.”

A car came up the long driveway. When Emma saw who it was, she felt her shoulders tighten.

Larry, her ex-husband, parked his car.

“Em, you didn’t tell him you were leaving, did you?” Her grandmother had never cared for Larry.

She shook her head. “I haven’t heard from him in over three months.”

“When was the last time he saw the girls?”

“Sometime last year.” Her girls didn’t have any relationship with him. Emma wished it could be different, but with Larry she doubted it would ever be.

Larry is all about Larry.

“Hey, beautiful ladies.” He walked up the steps carrying a box. “Since my girls are here, I bet there’s some delicious pie inside, isn’t there?”

Before her grandmother could answer, Emma stood up, blocking him from the door. “What are you doing here, Larry?”

“I wanted to see Andrea and Autumn. And I brought their birthday videos back. Thanks for letting me make some copies.” He handed her the box.

“How did you know we were here? We haven’t seen you in ages.”

His infrequent visits always upset her girls. They didn’t really know him or trust him. Every time he appeared he came with promises he never kept. In a flash, he disappeared again, staying away for longer and longer periods of time.

“I didn’t. I went to your house and when I saw you weren’t there, I thought you might be here, at your grandparents’ farm.”

Her grandmother remained on the porch swing. “Not much of a farm anymore, but it’s still home to Leland and me.”

Larry smiled. “How is Father Christmas these days, Helen? I heard his surgery went well.”

“Not bad for a man who will be eighty-five on his next birthday. There’s plenty of pie, Larry.” Her grandmother stood. Even though she didn’t care for Larry, the woman was always the perfect hostess. “I’ll put on a pot of coffee for all of us.”

Her grandmother walked inside, leaving Emma and Larry alone on the porch.

“How’s your job?” Last she’d heard he still worked in the oil industry, which was booming in the state these days. “You’re behind on your child support again.”

“Sorry, Emma.” He opened up his billfold and pulled out three one hundred dollar bills. “I wish I had never let you go.”

“You didn’t have a choice, Larry.” She’d been the one to end it after all the shit he’d put her through.

“I’ve just been so busy. Here.” He handed her the bills.