Carrie’s head jerked up when she heard the front door. Louie let out a bark, but when his tail started wagging, she knew it was Josh and relaxed.

“Hi,” she said as he turned to lock the door behind him.

“Hi.” He looked surprised. “I thought you’d be in bed already.”

“We wanted to wait up.” She walked over and wrapped her arms around him. “How did it go?”

He’d texted her some of the details, but he’d left out most of what she’d learned from her father.

He held onto her and she felt his entire body shake. “He killed a man,” he said into her hair. “I mean, everyone in town knew it was bound to happen, but you can’t put someone in jail for the inevitable, right?”

She pulled back. She’d had dinner with her folks at the restaurant. The entire town was talking about it, and many felt guilty that they hadn’t done more. Including her. How many times had the man driven through town or shown up somewhere drunk?

“It’s not your fault, or anyone else’s. Only Kevin’s. He’s been through enough AA sessions that he knew getting behind the wheel was bad.”

They sat down on the sofa. Josh put his head in his hands. “I talked to the family.”

“Of the man?” she asked. Josh nodded his head while it still rested in his hands.

“I offered to pay for the funeral. They were so understanding. They didn’t want anything from me. They didn’t blame me and even prayed with me.” He was crying now, and all Carrie could do was hold onto him. “My brother’s coming home to help me deal with the mess.”

“Tom? Isn’t he overseas?”

“Yes, he was. I guess he’s been back in the States for a few weeks on leave. He thinks Dad should get the death penalty.” He glanced up. “Susie isn’t going to come. She works at a hospital in San Diego. She made it clear that, whatever the man had done, he could no longer affect her.”

“Have you talked to your mother?” she asked. She’d seen Brenda earlier that morning, before all of this happened.

Josh sighed and pulled her into his arms as he leaned back on the sofa. “She didn’t sound surprised. I think your dad stopped by and told her first.”

“She didn’t go to the hospital?” Carrie asked.

“No, she gave up on him long ago. Besides, she still has a few restraining orders out for him.”

“Right.” Carried leaned into him. “Several people dropped off some dishes for you. A few pies and brownies.” She glanced up at him.

He was brushing his hand down her hair. “Pride.” He sighed. “Always ready with the baked goods during a tragedy.” He pulled her up off the sofa. “I could use some pie.”

They sat in the kitchen, snacking and talking about what they planned to do next. With Tommy coming back into town tomorrow, Carrie thought about rearranging her schedule. She hadn’t seen Josh’s brother since he’d graduated a few years before them. Tom had joined the marines before graduation and hadn’t been back to Pride since.

“I can have the guest room fixed up for Tom, if you want?” she asked.

Josh shook his head. “He told me he’d stay at the B&B. He didn’t want to put a dent in the ‘us’ thing.” His eyes met hers. “As if Dad hadn’t already done that.”

“Hey.” She reached across the table and took his hand. “As I’ve said before, I’m still here. I knew about your father long before we started dating in school. I’ve been around here the past two years and have seen what he’s capable of. I’m not blind.”

“No, you’re not.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Is it wrong,” he said after a moment of silence, “that I want to take you right here, right now?” His eyes ran over her face and body.

She’d changed into a pink T-shirt and pink sleeping shorts. Her hair was pulled into a soft braid that fell over her shoulder. She’d pulled all of her makeup off and guessed that she looked half-asleep, since she’d fallen asleep waiting for him to come home.

Moving quickly, she pushed his empty plates to the side and straddled his hips. “No.” She kissed him, her fingers digging into his hair, holding him to her lips. “Not at all. I want you, too.” She moved her hips over his and felt his desire increase.

In a quick move, he had her back against the table. His mouth covered hers as he deepened the kiss. She wrapped her legs around him and held on as he started moving over her. His hands yanked her shorts down quickly and, before she could respond, his fingers dipped into her, forcing her shoulders to bound off the table. She cried out with pleasure as he hovered over her. When he sat back down in the chair and covered her with his mouth, she arched and held on as he pleased her.

She’d never felt anything like Josh demanding everything she had. It was intoxicating and impossible to deny him.

When she cried out with her release, he gave her a moment to recover, then he stood and slowly slid into her, holding her tight as his arms shook. She tried to wrap her legs around him, but his palms were rested on her inner thighs.

“Let me,” he growled out. “I want to watch us.” Her eyes opened, and she watched as he slowly entered her over and over again. She’d never seen anything more beautiful than him taking her like that.

His movements sped up and he pulled her closer. Wrapping her legs around him, he picked her up until they were standing. He took a few steps until her back was against the refrigerator. He continued to please her.

This time, when she cried out, he whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

Her legs slid down until her feet touched the floor. Before she had a chance to recover, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

He laid her on the bed gently, then crawled in beside her and pulled her close.

“Josh?” she asked after a moment.

“Hmm?”

“I love you, too.” He kissed her forehead, and she held onto him as they fell asleep.

---

When he met his brother at the Oar the following day around noon, he was surprised at how little Tom had changed since the last time he’d seen him. He was a man now, not a boy—the marines had seen to that—and he’d gained about ten pounds of pure muscle. But still, he was the same old Tom.

When he saw him, he shook his hand and pulled him into a hug, as if it had just been yesterday that he’d seen him instead of almost five years ago.

They sat in a back booth, ate lunch, and caught up. Carrie walked over and gave Tom a quick friendly hug but had to get back to work.

They were done eating when she finished her shift. She had changed out of her uniform into a pair of grey shorts and a red top and had pulled her hair into a loose braid. She looked amazing and he realized just how lucky he was to have her in his life for a second time.

Josh stood up and gave Carrie a quick kiss for the entire restaurant and his brother to see. They had planned to head to the hospital together after Carrie’s shift.

“How’s marine life treating you?” Carrie asked Tom as they walked out of the Oar.

“It’s been fine. But why in god’s name are you back together with this loser?” Tom elbowed him.

Carrie smiled and squeezed his hand.

“Remind me again, why are you still single?” Josh asked him instead of giving Carrie a chance to answer his brother.

“Because I can’t find a sexy redhead that will put up with me like you did,” Tom joked.

Josh opened the passenger door for Carrie and she climbed into his car.

Carrie and Tom talked about the past few years on the trip to the hospital.

When the talk finally turned towards his father, the mood shifted. He’d talked to Tom briefly yesterday, so he was filled in on the basics about the accident.

“What does Mom think?” Tom asked.

“You haven’t seen her yet?” Carrie asked.

“No, I got into town just in time to meet Josh. I was going to swing by the place and see her.” Tom shrugged.

“The last time you saw her was graduation?” Josh asked.

“Yeah.” Tom sighed. “I said some things I’m not proud of.” His eyes met his brother’s in the mirror.

“Yeah,” Josh agreed, remembering the fight. Tom had made a pretty valid point. He’d been upset that his mother was still in Pride and had stuck with their father for so long. Just before Tom graduated, she’d been thinking of getting back together with their father. It had been a temporary lapse in judgment, one where she’d ended up with a black eye and a new restraining order against him.

“Mom has changed a lot since then,” Josh said. “Give her another chance.”

“You told me she hasn’t gone to see Dad yet,” Tom said.

“No, she said she didn’t want to be the one to break the restraining order.”

“Right.” Tom sighed. They remained silent until he pulled into the parking lot. “How do we deal with the other family?” he asked.

“I’ve already arranged to pay for the funeral,” Josh answered.

“Did we know them?” Tom asked.

“No.” Josh shook his head. “They were traveling back to Portland from Disney.”

Tom sighed heavily. “What details do you have?”

“Mike Collins, father of three children, ages fourteen, eleven, and eight. He was in his late forties.” He’d memorized the man’s information. He turned the car off and leaned his head against the steering wheel. “His wife had beaten cancer last year and this was the first family trip they’d taken in years.”

He felt Carrie’s hand on his shoulder and realized he was crying again.

“What do you say to the people whose lives your father has ruined?” Tom asked.

He glanced up and met his brother’s eyes. “I cried a lot. The mother, Carolyn, was in a neck brace. The kids, a boy and two girls, were all untouched.”

“Thank god,” Tom said, and Josh nodded.

“Yeah. They’ve already left to go back home. Early this morning. Like I said, I made arrangements to pay for the funeral. They tried to talk me out of it. They wanted us to know that they didn’t blame us, but still…”

Tom reached up and rested his hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go in. We’ll deal with the rest, together.”

They walked into their father’s private room, which he’d been transferred to earlier that morning. He was still handcuffed to the bed.

His father’s eyes were wide open this time and when he spotted the three of them, he smirked.

“Well, well, come to break me out?” His father’s eyes were glued to Tom.

“Hell, no,” Tom answered, walking over to the side of the bed. “I’ve come to clean up your mess.”

“Mess?” His father chuckled and rattled the handcuffs. “They’ve locked me up for no damn reason. So, I crashed my truck into a tree.” He shrugged. The bandage over his eye fell slightly and when he reached up to put it back in place, the handcuffs blocked him. Then his eyes turned to Carrie. “Tell your old man I’ll post bond. Just let me loose.”

“You’re beyond my father’s help this time,” she said softly. She reached up and took Josh’s hand.

His father noticed the move and smirked again. “So, you did shack up again. What’d I tell you, boy?”

Josh stepped forward, dropping Carrie’s hand. “Do you know what amazes me?” He didn’t give his father a chance to speak. “You actually think that any of us”—he glanced over at Tom— “would ever listen to someone like you. Carrie’s right. You’re not only behind her father’s reach, you’ve been beyond ours for years. We came today to say goodbye.” He glanced over at Tom. “To clean up your mess one last time. From here on out, you’re on your own.”

“It’s just a damn tree. I’m sure I’ll get my license back as soon as I make bail.”

“You killed someone,” Carrie said softly. Josh watched his father’s eyes narrow. “A father of three children. A man who courageously helped his wife beat cancer, only to die by being hit head-on by a man who doesn’t care about anyone other than himself.” She moved closer.

“Shut the bitch up,” his father spat. “She doesn’t know what…” He didn’t make it any farther, because Tom stepped closer and raised his fist.

The room was silent as his brother stood over their father, ready to strike. Josh nudged Carrie behind him.

“If you weren’t chained to that bed, I’d slug you.” Tom lowered his fist slowly. “I made a promise to myself a long time ago that I’d never end up like you, someone who would slug people weaker than them to show their dominance. You have no right to speak to Carrie like that. She and her people have been more of a family to us than you ever were. Besides, she’s right. You’re beyond our reach. The state has stepped in. You’re in their custody now. You won’t see a dime or an ounce of help from any of us.” Tom looked over at Josh. “Actually, this is the last time you’ll see any of us. From here on out, we’ll live as if our father died yesterday.” He started to walk out.

Josh stepped forward and got his father’s attention. “Kevin, while you rot in your jail cell, think hard and long about the choices you made in your life. When you realize—and you will someday—that no one else is to blame for your life turning out the way it did, know that the only thing you ever taught your children was how not to be like you.” He turned, took Carrie’s hand in his, and walked out of the room while his father spewed curse words and banged on the hospital bed.