Eat Crow (Cheap Thrills 6)

“That’s not to say it’s going to happen soon for your dad and me. No, we’re too happy living our lives and loving you, just like your pops did. We have everything we could ever want, and your grandad wanted the same for you, so he left you the house and the money to build your life.”

“But—” I stopped and licked my dry lips. “Why do I have to move back here?”

Leaning forward, she reached for my hand, maintaining eye contact with me the whole time. “Because it’s time. What happened was a huge blow for a young heart, and I can’t say I wouldn’t have reacted the same way if I was in your shoes.” She shot a glare over at Dad, who looked like he’d sucked on a lemon. “Time goes by, and all of the hurtful and shitty things we go through stick with us, but their power over us fades. Don’t let this continue to control you.”

Squatting down on my other side, Dad squeezed my knee to get my attention on to him. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry, baby. I thought I was doing something for both of you by giving him money so you could do stuff, but doing it in the way I did was so wrong. The second shit went down, I felt like I’d just stabbed you in the back repeatedly. I can only thank all that’s Holy that you were able to forgive me after it.”

He scooted closer to me, and lower lip wobbled. “I lost my daughter the day it happened. You distanced yourself from all of us, and it was like a wall came up. I might have been able to call you, see you, hug you and enjoy all the beauty of you, but it was never the same. I spent so many nights talking it over with your pops, and it’s one of my biggest regrets in life.”

Inhaling deeply, I exhaled again and weighed everything up. Losing Pops had put a lot into perspective for me, and I needed to admit it.

I’d fucked up. There was no way around it, I’d completely fucked up. I would’ve gone away for college, but maybe I could’ve found a job closer to Piersville after it. Instead, I’d stayed in Boston because of my pride.

Yes, I had a right to be hurt, but I also had the maturity of an adult to let it go way before now.

That’s what I needed to do so that I didn’t waste any more time.

“I’m sorry.” When Dad went to interrupt, I held my hand up. “No, let me get this out because I have to say it.

“I’ve been holding onto the feelings for years, and I’ve wasted so much time. What for? What has it ac

hieved? I didn’t benefit from feeling like that, and I lost out on a lot, so why didn’t I just let it go way before now? In the grand scheme of shit that life throws at you, it wasn’t that bad.

“Would I do the same thing to my kids—I don’t think so, but I can’t say a definitive no to that question. I can say that I was wrong to hold onto it, even if I didn’t bring it up or do anything drastic unless you count hiding for seven years.

“I missed out on time with you guys and Pops, and I don’t want to have any more regrets about things like that. So, now it’s time to put it in the past, and we have to focus on going forward.”

Looking down at the ground, Dad shook his head. “That’s what Pops was trying to do with his will. Bring us back together, and move us forward.”

Reaching out, I shook his shoulder like I was going to knock him off his feet. “And that’s what we’re doing.” Then, looking up at the lawyer who was just making his way back behind his desk, I said apologetically, “And I’ll get you a new rug.”

Bursting out laughing, he looked at the area of his wooden floor that the rug had been in. “I think I prefer it without one. It makes the space more open, and I don’t have to worry about mud and shit on people’s shoes.”

I was nervous about where life was taking me, but I wanted to live it to the max like Pops had, so I had to trust in what he’d set up for us.

Grinning at my parents, I nodded once, my decision made. “Let’s do this shit.”

Chapter Three

Logan

Let me be straight, watching someone being questioned wasn’t like in the movies. You couldn’t usually just ask outright what’d happened or piece it together as easily, it took patience.

And patience really sucked when you wanted to know the answers right then and there, but you weren’t getting them or were being given the wrong ones.

The whole time you spoke to the person, you were trying to read between the lines as well.

What were they going to do next?

What did the eye shift and shoulder shrug mean?

And I’d been watching all of this for going on two hours now.

Leaving the woman, Cinder Murphy, with her lawyer, Alex came out and joined us in the room attached to the one he’d been in

“What do you think?”

I didn’t take my eyes off her as I answered. “I don’t think her tears were fake. Her recent memory recollection is to the left and slightly down. Her farther back memory is to the top right, and she accessed it about sixty percent of the time. When you asked her who took Mrs. Johansen’s medication, she blinked rapidly, signaling increased anxiety and adrenaline.”