“We’ll miss you,” Sorrow said.
“You’ll be too busy to miss us,” Marlene said with a wink, implying more than just her kitchen duties.
Sorrow would never forget the day her parents announced their intentions to her. “You’re going to cook,” Dad had told her. “Every day of the week, if you want. ”
It was such an abrupt attitude shift, she didn’t entirely believe it. “I thought you were upset, you know, thinking the oven got ruined on my watch. ”
“The oven? Aw hell, girl. Everyone knows the fire was that damned Dabney’s fault. Screw the oven. ” His gruff voice had turned ragged with emotion. “I could’ve lost you in that fire. ”
The sentiment had humbled her. And honestly, it’d shocked her, too. Something had happened that day at the mine. And part of the credit was owed to Billy, who’d had her father pegged all along.
“You’re our baby,” her mother had added.
Dad agreed—and it’d been tantamount to an emotional outburst. “We rely on you. We already have one kid so far away. ” His face had twisted up funny when he’d said that last bit. If it’d been any other man, the expression would’ve looked angry, but with her father, she knew, it was deep emotion he masked.
Even her mom was chiming in more than usual. She’d interrupted, saying, “What your father is trying to tell you is that we rely on you. How would we—how would I—have managed without you?” Mom gave Dad a chastising look. “I guess your father has held on to the past too tightly. Maybe he thought that a firm grip would keep you from running off like your siblings did. ”
“I’m not running anywhere. I just want to be given credit. Given responsibility. ”
Her father gave a gruff nod, visibly struggling with something. “It’s been hard. The stroke. ”
“Oh, Daddy. ” She reached for him then, and he wrapped her in his arms. “It must be hard. Just because you’re not out there chopping wood every morning doesn’t mean you’re not as strong, or as vital, or as important to us as before. ”
He’d given her a pat on the shoulder as they parted, looking uncomfortable at the sudden roiling emotions. “Fine then. You run a tight kitchen. Now get to it. Lunch crowd will be coming soon. ”
And that’d been that.
Sully’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Only makes good sense,” he was saying. “Nobody packs the tavern with hungry diners like Sorrow here. ”
“And you taught her everything you know, didn’t you?” Marlene took his arm. “Though it’s a wonder Bear didn’t see what was going on under his own nose. What a shock about Dabney. ”
“I guess Damien will get his shot at the helm of Simmons Timber sooner rather than later,” Sorrow said. “His dad can’t exactly run the company from prison, can he?”
“Prison,” the Kidd sisters gasped, practically in unison.
“Just what we need,” Laura said, not bothering to conceal her scowl. “Another Simmons male sitting on the throne. ”
Sorrow was quick to correct her. “Don’t count Damien out yet. There’s a good guy in there—he’ll find his way out. ”
“Speaking of changes…” Marlene’s gaze drifted across the grass to her grandson as he spread out a picnic blanket for him and his date. “Did you hear the news? Craig is headed to Chicago after graduation. Decided to go Navy. Said he was tired of being landlocked. ” She sighed.
“It’s a good life. ” Sully tucked her arm more snugly in his, ignoring the scandalized glances Pearl and Ruby shot their way. “He’s ready, Marlene. He’s a man. ”
Marlene patted his hand, gratitude in her eyes. Those two made a great couple.
She glanced at her big sister to share a look, but when she saw those wickedly narrowed eyes, she braced herself.
Laura asked, “Where’s your boyfriend?”
Boyfriend. Billy was so much more than just a boyfriend. He’d become her world. She’d have loved nothing more than to have him there for the entire day, but he was the sheriff, and his responsibilities never took a day off. And though they hadn’t been together long, their bond was a powerful one. It was as though she felt him out there, their two hearts connected, no matter where they were.
But instead of saying all that, she just gave a casual shrug. “Once he saw the booths were all up and running, he said he had some quick department business to attend to. ”
It wasn’t until later that afternoon that Sorrow got a taste of just what that pressing business was.
* * *
He hated leaving Sorrow’s side on her big day. But it was just for a little while. And it was necessary.