One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

Stuart

Patrick and Elaine were on the computer talking to Kenny and Lane. I’d ventured from my wing of the house because it was dinnertime, but now this was happening. Even my mother and Bill were getting in on the action. Nikki had left the day I disappeared, so it was just the family and Derek now, although Derek was family. He was like a brother to me—and Patrick.

Naturally, my thoughts drifted to Mariska. Patrick trusted Kenny to keep Lane while he and Elaine were here having a vacation or whatever they were doing. Kenny and Mariska were best friends—from what I understood. Would Kenny be best friends with someone who’d con me? My younger brother wasn’t known for his good judgment. Who knew Kenny wasn’t the same. I stared at the fire as I turned these conflicting thoughts over in my head.

“It’s hard being away from him.” I looked up to see Patrick standing beside me.

Dropping my leg, I straightened my shoulders. “I wouldn’t know.”

“I wanted to talk to you about something.” His expression was serious.

“Okay.”

“It’s two things, really.” This time he put his boot up on the hearth. “Elaine and I were thinking about getting married here. At Christmas.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Is that enough time—”

“It’s quick, I know, but we’ve made great memories here. We love it.” He rubbed a hand across his chin. “I know you’re wanting to head out pretty quick. Think you might be able to come back? Or stick around a few extra weeks?”

The idea of prolonging my stay for a wedding was not the most appealing suggestion I could imagine. Patrick seemed to read my mind.

“I know we’ve never been tight, and I know you’re sort of ticked at us over how things went down with Mariska... I guess, just think about it.”

I nodded. “What was the other thing?”

He glanced over his shoulder towards Elaine still talking to Kenny and his son. Mom and Bill were standing behind them smiling, and I noticed my uncle’s hand on her lower back.

“You ever picked up on that?”

I blinked a few times, and it was like a curtain sliding back. “No.”

“Me either, but I guess it’s been brewing for a while.”

Mom and Bill? Flipping through the pages of history, these past days, the months after Dad died, how much Bill had stayed around. Then he left with no explanation, came out here to the ranch and kept his distance. Yet at the same time, he was always there whenever Patrick or I needed anything.

“I felt like an idiot when I realized it,” he whispered looking back at the fire.

“You are an idiot.” I couldn’t resist, and he socked my arm. I mentally noted the strength Derek had warned me about. “What you got on your mind?”

“Bill was always more of a father to us than Dad. He kept us every summer, spent time with us, listened to our problems. Maybe they’re worried we’ll be angry. Maybe they need our permission.”

“Maybe we should keep our noses out of their business.” I was still smarting from my little brother’s “help” with my love life.

“Either way, if you get the chance, be ready to green-light the hell out of that shit.”

“Mom’s a grown woman. She can do what she wants.”

He turned back to the fire and watched the blue flames licking over the black logs. “I’ll be glad when you get your head out of your ass.”

“What the fuck?”

“Time passes, situations change. Mom never expected Dad to be killed, but it happened. Now she?

?s looking at a new path.” His hazel eyes cut to mine. “You’ve got to see when it’s time to change paths, start something new.”

Stepping back, I patted his shoulder. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Stuart!” Mom was headed in our direction.