Carrie had never laughed with her friends as hard as she was at the moment. She, Josh, Tom, Brenda, and her parents were all crowded into a back table at the new local pizzeria, Baked. It was opening night and Carrie could tell that the place was going to be a huge hit.

The owners, twin brothers, Carter and Corey Miller, had come into Pride under a veil of secrecy. They were hardly seen outside of the old corner brick building a few doors down from Josh’s building.

The first thing the brothers had done was board up all the windows. Then they had begun work on the building all by themselves. Even Parker had been curious about what was going on in there. He’d talked to them about hiring him to help with the remodel, but the brothers had refused any help. Rumors were going around that both of them were licensed contractors in Oregon and had done most of the work themselves.

Looking around the gorgeous building now, she knew she wasn’t the only one in town who was impressed.

The brick walls had been exposed and sandblasted to make the old feel come to life. Industrial lighting hung from the ceiling, which was nothing more than cement beams. The tables were wood and steel, which added to the industrial feeling. Even the bar tops matched the theme. A long bar ran across the back where two large ovens and a massive stone wood-burning pizza oven sat.

The salad bar on the back-left wall was made out of steel and brick and had Edison bulbs hanging low to light the food up.

Carter, the darker haired of the brothers, was manning the oven while Corey, the lighter-haired brother, was taking orders. If it weren’t for the hair color differences, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart without looking at the name tags attached to their shirts.

The secrecy surrounding the brothers had almost been too much for the town of Pride to handle, which is why Riley was practically drooling over them.

Her friend had spent the last couple weeks talking about nothing else. It had even gotten on Lilly’s nerves, which was saying a lot, since Lilly was the most level headed one among them. She giggled as she watched her two friends sitting at the bar top across the way, each with a beer in hand, staring at the twin brothers as they waited for their pizza.

“You can invite your friends over to the table,” Tom said, nodding towards the pair.

Carrie laughed. “First off, I don’t think they’d come over, because they are totally macking on Carter and Corey.” She nodded to the brothers. “Second, trust me, you don’t want them to be sitting over here because all they would talk about is those two.” She smiled at Josh. “Besides, we’ve already finished our pizza.” She nodded to the three large empty pans at the table. “They just ordered.”

When Tom glanced over there again, she wondered just which of her friends he had his eye on.

“When do you have to be back?” She leaned in, scanning him. She’d never really gotten to know Josh’s brother much. He’d been older and had left just after she and Josh had started dating.

His eyes snapped back to the table. “I have to head back tomorrow.”

“Heading overseas again?” Brenda asked.

Carried had always admired Josh and Tom’s mother. The frail soft-spoken woman had always been so polite to Carrie. She wondered how the woman had survived the horrors of being married to Kevin Williams.

“Yeah. I’m thinking of re-enlisting when my time is up.” His eyes moved back to Carrie’s friends, and she saw something quick flash behind them, something she’d seen in Josh just a few nights ago—the desire to find home.

“You know,” she jumped in, “you could always come back and train with the coast guard. Or, I bet my dad would sign you on.” She shrugged when her father looked at her.

Thankfully, her father took her hint. “We have two guys retiring next year. We’re going to be hurting for deputies.”

Tom tilted his head. “I’ll think about it.”

Carrie could see the wheels turning behind his eyes and smiled. After a moment, she glanced out the front window and sighed.

“I’m thinking that things will be a whole lot quieter from here on out,” she thought out loud.

The table was silent. “I’m sorry they didn’t lock Kevin up long ago,” Brenda said. Tom reached over and took his mother’s hand while Josh did the same with her other hand.

“He’s out of our way now,” Tom said soberly.

“What happens to him now?” Carrie asked her father. She didn’t know if anyone else wanted to know, but she did. She had to be assured that there wasn’t a way Kevin Williams could do this to someone else.

“He’s being transferred tomorrow to the county jail. He may be eligible for bail until his trial. I doubt it, since someone was killed and there was another person injured, but it’s still up to the judge. Then, he’ll be charged with either criminal negligence or involuntary vehicular manslaughter.” Her dad turned to Brenda. “Since you’re officially divorced and separated financially, the chances of the family suing you are slim, but there is a chance they could come back and sue Kevin for medical and emotional damages.”

“Will that affect us?” Tom asked.

“I’m not a lawyer, but I doubt it. I don’t see how you could be held responsible.”

“I’ve paid for Mike Collin’s funeral,” Josh said. Carrie reached under the table and took his hand in hers. Their eyes met, and she smiled at him.

“That might be an issue. If they do decide to sue, they could use your kindness to prove to the court that you feel financially responsible for your father,” her father said. “I’ve got a buddy in law. I’ll have him contact you.”

“I had my own lawyer draw up the necessary paperwork. I think he’s got it covered, thanks.”

Her father nodded, and she wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw a hint of pride in his eyes as he looked at Josh.

As they drove back home that evening, she rested her hand in his across the center console.

“Dinner was nice.”

“Yeah.” Their fingers were clasped. He glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned. She jerked her head up in time to see a rather large truck barreling towards them. “Hang on…” Josh had barely had time to finish the words when the car was hit. He jerked his hand and gripped the wheel, trying to get the car back under control.

She held on to the seatbelt and closed her eyes. When the car stopped spinning, she peeked one eye open.

“Are you okay?” he asked. They were still, miraculously, on the road.

“Yes.” She glanced around. “Where did the truck go?”

“It’s gone.” He sighed as he pulled out his phone. “I’m calling your dad.”

She listened to the conversation, then waited for the red and blue flashing lights. It took her father less than five minutes to get to them. By then, they were both standing outside Josh’s car, looking at the damage.

Her father rushed to her and wrapped her in his arms. Looking over her head, he started asking Josh questions.

“Did you get a look at the car?”

“Truck,” Josh said. “No, other than the fact that they had an off-road LED light bar on top. The lights were blinding. I didn’t see him behind me until he flipped those on.”

Her dad let out a long heavy sigh. He glanced down at her and the damage on the car. “If you two are okay, I’ll go check on who I think could be behind this. I want to catch him pretty quick.”

“Dad?” she asked.

“The damage doesn’t seem too bad. I’ll call you later, sweetie. Josh will see to it that you get home okay.” She inwardly winced, since they hadn’t told him, or anyone else for that matter, that they were officially living together. “Thanks.” Her dad reached out and shook Josh’s hand. “I’ll file a report. Should I stop by your place later to—”

“I’m staying with Carrie,” Josh said while still holding onto her father’s hand.

“Dad, Josh is moving in with me.” Her entire body tensed.

Her father’s eyes narrowed briefly, but he recovered quickly. “I’ll stop by later.” He dropped Josh’s hand and quickly walked away.

---

“That wasn’t too bad,” Josh said as they watched Robert drive away.

Carrie turned towards him and shook her head slightly. “Come on, let’s go home.”

He took one last look at the busted bumper and then walked over and opened the door again.

They rode home in silence. When they arrived, he walked around with her to check on the animals. Everyone was happily tucked in their homes for the evening. They opened Louie’s kennel, and the dog raced around happily as they walked back to the house.

When they arrived, Robert was pulling into the driveway. Louie ran around, barking excitingly about the new visitor.

Carrie’s mother pulled in behind the patrol car. She got out of the truck and rushed to grab up Carrie in a hug.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yes, we’re fine.” Carrie pulled back.

“Find anything?” Josh asked Robert.

“Yeah, Ricky Jones,”

“Dad’s best friend.” Josh sighed. “I should have known.”

“His truck had a few new dents in it,” Robert told them. “I’ve had David haul him in and impound his truck. He says he got a call from your dad, who claimed that the entire accident was a lie, so you could lock him up for good. He claims he only crashed his truck into a tree.”

Josh groaned. “Sorry about all this.”

Robert slapped him on the back. “Son, you have nothing to apologize for. Your father is a grown man. Long before you were even a glimmer in your mother’s eye, I had to deal with Kevin.”

Josh and Robert followed the women up to the front porch.

“He was trouble even back then?” Josh asked.

“Your father has been trouble since the day he was born,” Robert joked as he sat down next to Carrie’s mother, Amelia. “Actually, both Ricky and your dad have been big problems. It’s kind of how we met.” Robert reached over and took his wife’s hand.

Josh leaned against the railing next to Carrie. He wrapped his arm around her protectively as he thought about how bad the accident could have been.

“The two of them had me cornered after school once,” Amelia said.

“What?” Carrie gasped. “What happened?”

Her mother smiled. “Your father saved me.”

“Got my ass kicked. If it wasn’t for Todd and Iian Jordan, I’d probably be toothless and walk with a limp.”

“Ricky and Kevin broke one of Robert’s ribs and punctured his lung,” Carrie’s mother added.

“How did I not know about this?” Carrie shook her head.

“There are some things,” her dad said, “we decided to keep from you. Besides, it was a long time ago.”

“What else did my old man do?” Josh asked. “I never could get a straight answer from my mom or grandmother. Maybe you guys can fill me in on some of it.”

They looked at one another and, for a minute, he wondered if they would say anything. He decided to give them a hint.

“Is it true he burned down a house?” The rumor had always haunted him and his siblings. His brother Tom had been old enough to overhear people talking, but he’d been so young, he hadn’t understood anything.

“Yes.” Robert sighed. “Allison’s mother’s place.”

“Allison? As in, Iian and Allison Jordan? Riley, Connor, and Jacob’s mom?” Carrie sounded shocked.

“Yes.” Robert sighed. “Once again, that was a long time ago.”

“Is that why he was locked up shortly after I was born?” he asked.

“They only gave him five years, since Allison and Iian pulled Teresa out in time and she wasn’t hurt.”

“My god,” he said under his breath. His eyes went to the floor. Knowing just a hint of what his father had done to the people in Pride, he wondered why he hadn’t been kicked out of town long ago.

“Hey.” Amelia stood up and walked over to him. “No one in town has ever or would ever blame you or your brother and sister, even your mother, for anything your father has done.” She sighed. “I think I covered it all, but just in case you misunderstood.” She touched his face gently. Carrie was so much like the woman standing in front of him now. “Don’t go down the pity road. Your mother tried doing that plenty of times, but the people in Pride have shown her nothing but love and kindness. Just as they’ve shown you and your brother and sister.” She touched his arm and waited until he nodded in agreement.

“I knew long before you started dating Carrie that you and Tommy were nothing like Kevin,” Robert added. “That’s the only reason I allowed you to date Carrie in the first place.”

Robert leaned down and gave Louie some attention. “We’d better go. I’ve got to head back and fill out all the paperwork.” He stood, and Josh held out his hand to shake his.

“Thank you.”

“Just doin’ my job.” Robert smiled at him and took his hand easily. “Now, as a father, I’m going to warn you”—he pulled him closer and Josh allowed himself to be tugged a step— “if you hurt my girl again, I’ll have to hunt you down this time.”

“Yes, sir.” He smiled and chuckled.

“Think that’s funny?” Robert said softly.

Josh dropped the smile from his face. “No, sir.”

Carrie and her mother broke into laughter. “Dad,” Carrie said, coming up behind him and resting a hand on his arm, “everyone knows that in our family, it’s Mom you have to fear.”

Robert chuckled, and all the tension left Josh’s body. Still, as they watched the two of them drive away, his mind replayed the stories they’d told him about his father.

“How about I bake cookies?” Carrie said, opening the front door.

“I could eat cookies,” he said. She practically skipped to the kitchen.

“You could always come back here and help.”

“I could.” He nodded. “I have to make a call first.” He pulled out his cell.

“Okay.” She placed a kiss on his lips. “Welcome home.” She kissed him again before disappearing into the back.

He wanted privacy for the call, so he stepped outside and called his brother to relay everything he’d learned. He felt less worthy of being with Carrie than he had ever felt before.