Nate’s stomach was in knots as he parked outside the construction site. He felt ridiculous for being so nervous, but he just hoped like hell that Michael Richmond wasn’t around to gloat.

Finally, his precious daughter was free of the annoying detective. Nate wasn’t sure he could stomach even the smallest pleasantries with the guy.

Holding his breath, he walked over the loose gravel pathway and headed to the small office shed on the edge of the construction site. The door popped open just as Nate was buttoning his jacket, and he was relieved to see Oscar loping down the two wooden steps.

The Englishman looked up and spotted Nate, halting with surprise.

“Uh, hello, Nate. What brings you here?” His gaze was kind of twitchy and Nate immediately went into high alert mode.

Nate tried to hide his frown. Why did this guy look so nervous?

Forcing what he hoped was a casual smile, Nate extended his hand in greeting. “I hope you don’t mind me just stopping by, but I’m here in an official capacity.”

This seemed to relax Oscar. His shoulders dropped and he took Nate’s hand with a smile. “What can I help you with?”

Nate’s brows flickered with confusion and he licked the side of his mouth. “Actually, I just wanted to follow up on that conversation you had with Ms. Parker at Lulu’s today.”

“Ms. Parker?” Oscar tipped his head.

“The old lady who thought you were someone else.”

“Oh.” Oscar chuckled and shook his head. “Talk about confusing. She seriously thought she knew me.”

“Why would she think that?” Nate asked, watching Oscar carefully.

The man shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve never owned a blue pickup truck.” He gazed into the distance for a second, then blinked and looked at Nate. “And I’d never set foot in Aspen Falls until I met Michael a couple of years ago. I don’t know what she was talking about.”

Nate rubbed his mouth and lightly kicked a loose stone with the toe of his shoes. “You don’t happen to have any relatives who look like you? Siblings? Cousins? An uncle? Someone Ms. Parker might’ve mistaken for you?”

Oscar was shaking his head. “I wish I could help you, but it’s honestly just me. I mean, my grandmother grew up in Chicago, so there’s maybe a chance I have some distant relative I don’t know about, but I can’t say for certain.”

Nate pulled out his notepad. “What was your grandmother’s name?”

“I’m sorry?” Oscar leaned forward.

“Your grandmother’s name,” Nate repeated. “What was it?”

“Oh, uh, Jacqueline Plymouth, and actually that was her married name, so I’m not sure what her maiden name was. When she left Chicago for London, she really cut ties. I don’t know the history. She didn’t like to talk about it, but I’ve never met any of her immediate family. I don’t even know where I’d find them.”

Nate pressed his lips together and cleared his throat. It was an effort to hide his frustration. The talk with Oscar was achieving nothing. His best bet was still to find Vern, which was turning into an incredibly hard task.

“Okay.” Nate bobbed his head. “Maybe I can try talking to Ms. Parker as well. She might be able to tell me more.”

Oscar winced, like that would probably be a waste of time as well. “Good luck with that.”

Nate agreed with an eyebrow raise, but then decided to give it one last shot before walking away.

“Well, if you could do me a favor and try to come up with your grandmother’s maiden name, I’d really appreciate the help.”

“Of course.” Oscar shook his head while he was talking, telling Nate that he had absolutely no intention of wasting his time.

Clenching his jaw, Nate asked one last question before turning away.

“You know, when I was watching you in the café today, you suddenly looked kind of nervous. That’s why I came out here to talk to you. I just wanted to check that you weren’t lying to sweet Ms. Parker.”

Oscar’s head jerked back like he was offended, but Nate’s unrelenting gaze made his expression buckle.

“I wasn’t nervous because of that.”

Nate frowned.

“Thing is, Nate, uh…well, Sally and I…”

Nate’s stomach clenched.

“We’ve started seeing each other. I know you guys were together for a long time, and I just didn’t know how you’d react.”

Nate’s mouth dried up, his tongue swelling with incompetence.

“I really care about her, very much. I know it may seem fast to you, but I’ve liked her for a long time. But she was always with you, see, and then after you broke up, she was so sad and I wanted to make her feel better…and, well, one thing has led to another. Quite quickly actually. It’s kind of wonderful.” A smile flitted over his lips and Nate’s fingers bunched into a fist. He’d never wanted to punch someone more.

Oscar had moved in on Sally.

And things were going well.

Bile surged in Nate’s gut, making it impossible to do anything but spin and walk away from him.

“I’m sorry, Nate,” he called after him. “But I promise I’m taking really good care of her. I’ll give her everything she wants and needs!”

It took everything in Nate not to cover his ears and run.

Oscar was taking care of Sally.

Nate’s Sally.

The only woman he’d ever loved.

She’d moved on.

It hadn’t been about space for her, it’d been about letting go so she could get the things she wanted. Things Oscar could provide.

Nate slammed into his car, puffing like a rhino before gripping the wheel and shouting, “SHIT!”

The agonized yell bounced off the windows and straight back at him.

Resting his head on the wheel, he could barely contain the emotions raging through him. They swirled around his body like a deadly tornado, hitting him with debris that bruised and wounded.

“I need a drink,” he finally muttered. “I need a fucking drink.”

Screaming away from the curb, he double-timed it to Shorty’s Tavern, where he spent the rest of his day and night huddled in a corner booth, nursing a bottle of Jack Daniel’s.