Chapter 3
Logan hurried down the sidewalk, his six-foot frame carrying his strides. There was something about the handshake with Brice that was still gnawing at him. He was no fool, he knew it was attraction. Brice was handsome, not in a rugged sense, but that clean-cut handsome that a model or New York stockbroker had. But he was a cop, and they were not to be trusted as far as Logan was concerned.
As he passed by a few familiar faces, he was greeted with warm smiles. Contrary to what Harry said, people still liked him here. And Logan was staying, he would not allow Harry to run him out.
Walking past a dozen or so shops, Logan looked up at a sign above a store and a smile crossed his face. Second Chances. It was the store his sister had opened a year ago, and pride swelled in Logan's heart. Opening the door, he stepped in and soaked in the surroundings. The wall to his right was lined with pottery, plates, and other breakables. The middle of the store had dozens of clothing racks. And to the far left was a line of bookcases full of both paper and hardback books ready to be read. Heading left, he walked over to the counter where a woman with a mop of long dark hair was hunched over, writing away on a piece of paper.
“Hello, beautiful,” Logan said, then his heart swelled as his sister looked up, her blue eyes wide, her mouth hanging open.
“Logan!” she cried out, her five-foot, four-inch frame hurrying around the counter. Opening his arms, he closed them around her as she began to cry. Though Logan rarely shed a tear, he allowed a few to be released. So much pain and hurt came to the surface after nearly three years of being apart.
“Let me look at you,” he said, breaking the embrace. His sister was beautiful, and through all the hell she had been through, the warm smile and fire in her eyes had not been put out completely. Though, he could still see the cloud of fear hanging over her.
“I’ve missed you, Maddy,” he said, wiping at his eye.
“Me too. You look so good,” she said, tears still rolling down her face. “You should’ve let me visit you.”
Logan smiled. He did not want her to see him in a prison uniform, nor have her known to Cindy or a handful of other guards that may have used her innocence to their advantage.
“It’s over now. That part of my life is behind me.”
Maddy shook her head. “I still can’t help but think if I would’ve…” she started to say before Logan cut her off.
Putting his hand on her shoulder, he smiled as he looked down at her. “Never say that. You did nothing wrong at all. You need to realize that.”
She nodded, wiping at her face. “Alright. I don't want to talk about it.”
Logan bit at his lip. She never did, though he knew she needed to. A professional therapist at the very least. And he agreed now was not the time to discuss it, but he would eventually with her.
“So, this is the shop?” he said, changing the subject.
“Yes, sir, it is,” Maddy said, grabbing his hand. “Let me give you the grand tour.” They walked over to the left side, passing by the bookcases. “Books sell pretty well. People still like having the physical copy.”
Logan looked over the numerous titles, seeing some he wanted. “Are you going to give me a discount?”
Maddy laughed, that sweet innocent laugh he always cherished. “I just might. Don't forget, you start work next Tuesday, and I won’t tolerate you being late.” She poked him in the chest as they walked along.
“I won’t be,” he said laughing. One of the conditions of his parole was to maintain employment, and Maddy had told him in no uncertain terms he would be working with her.
For the next fifteen minutes, she showed him around the shop, pointing out changes she had made and what she envisioned for the future. As she talked, Logan could not help but feel his heart fill with pride for her.
“Mom and Dad would’ve been real proud of you,” he said as they came back to the front counter. A single customer was in the shop browsing.
“I know. Anyway, Logan, I’m so glad you’re back. You’re not planning on moving away, are you?” she asked, her face looking terrified.
“No, of course not. I’m never leaving here, nor you, again.” He gave her a hug, and she sobbed into his chest as he held her. The fear, the anxiety, so many issues she had to be dealing with yet hardly talked to him about on the phone calls he had with her from prison. But he understood it all too well, for he had the same emotions. But those were his own problems, something that he would not burden her with. Now it was time for her to heal, his own demons could be dealt with later.
He was not a cold-blooded murderer, and though Tommy did deserve what happened to him, guilt of taking a man’s life still plagued Logan.
The man inside the store who had been browsing left the shop, and when Logan gave Maddy a kiss on the top of her head, she looked up.
“Love you, sis.”
“Love you too,” she said, her eyes red from crying. He gave her another big hug, and she wiped at her eyes, a smile back on her face. “Bree’s excited to see you. I told her to take a few days off so we can spend some time alone. But she’ll be around more often than not. She always is.”
Logan smiled. “I can’t wait to see her.”
“So, are you hungry?”
Logan laughed. “After three years of slop, you have no idea.”
Maddy walked behind the counter and grabbed her purse. “Come on, big brother, it’s time to pig out,” she said, throwing her arm around him.
Putting his arm around her, he smiled as they headed to the door. “Where’re we going?”
“Del's Diner. Cheeseburger, fries and a shake sound good?”
“Two cheeseburgers,” he corrected her and they both laughed as they headed back outside.
***
After a gut-busting late lunch at Del's, Logan leaned back against the seat in the old truck that used to belong to their father as Maddy drove along. Once out of the few blocks around downtown, the buildings all disappeared and farmland as far as the eye could see was in every direction. Their home was about ten miles away, and Logan felt excited to see it once again.
“So, is my handsome brother going to find himself a boyfriend?” Maddy asked, a grin on her face.
Logan laughed. “I was thinking about a hot bath first.”
“You know what I mean. Are you going to start looking?”
Logan shook his head. “No. Not for a while. I want to concentrate on getting this parole behind me first. Maybe afterward. But if I do, he’s going to have to be local, because I’m not leaving here,” he said, watching her face light up.
“Good. Now listen, I don't mind cooking for us, and doing most of the laundry and stuff, but I don't want you leaving big messes lying around like you used to.” Her voice was firm as was the nod to her head.
“What? I was never messy!” Logan said, letting out a laugh as Maddy took a right off the highway onto the old dirt road that lead to their house.
“Uh-huh.”
Logan smiled as they passed by a few familiar homes. “So, Bree’s coming by in a few days to grace us with her presence?” he asked. Bree was Maddy's best friend since they could walk, living adjacent to their property, a small lake shared between them.
Maddy nodded. “She’s been a big help to me. She stays over a lot, basically lives with me.” She laughed. “Don’t worry, she went back to live at her place.”
“It’s fine. I think she’s over me.”
Maddy laughed. “She had a crush on you when she was a teenager. Those days are long gone.”
Logan smiled. Bree had hit on him for quite awhile until he told Maddy to let her know he was gay. The poor girl seemed heartbroken, but that didn't stop her from flirting with him. Truth be told, it was a game the two had developed, and it always made Logan laugh. Bree was a good person, having helped Maddy a lot over the last three years. And for that, he loved her like a sister.
“Here we are. Home.”
Logan nodded, tears welling up as Maddy pulled into the gravel driveway. “Home,” he whispered.
The house was a ranch-style with unobstructed views of the mountains. With five bedrooms and a little over three thousand square feet and sitting on a few hundred acres, it was a treasure indeed. His father had made his money in the 1980s on Wall street, and instead of snorting profits up his nose like most other brokers did, he invested it in real estate and other business ventures.
“Damn, I’m going to have to paint the trim,” Logan said as Maddy pulled the truck up. The house sat back about a quarter of a mile from the road, and now he could see the light beige trim was peeling.
“You’d be proud of me,” Maddy said, turning the truck off and turning toward him. “I fixed a hole in the roof last month.”
“Maddy, the princess, getting her hands dirty? Who would’ve thought?” Logan teased, then laughed as she playfully slugged his arm.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
Logan nodded as he grabbed his paper bag and opened the truck door, making a note to grease the loud hinges. Walking around up front, he smiled at the wraparound porch, the white paint still holding strong.
“Just a moment,” he said, gazing out across the horizon, the sun highlighting the mountain peaks. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, appreciating the crisp mountain air, so different from the stale prison air. And then his mind wandered, to his parents, and when all four of them would sit out here at times and gaze at the same peaks. The love, the laughter. And now all he had left was his Maddy. He had failed once to protect her and would never do that again.
As he opened his eyes, Maddy slipped her arm around him, holding him tight. “I miss them, Logan. Every day I think they’re going to show up and this has all been a nightmare.”
Logan nodded, knowing she was not speaking of just their deaths.
“Me too, me too,” he said.
“Come on. I need to head back to town, but let’s get you settled in first.”
***
The house had not changed one bit, and Maddy had kept the inside spotless. The living room still had the beige furniture and the white oval rug over the stone floor. The fireplace that was now empty would be in full use in a few months once the snow came in.
Heading down the hallway, he came to his old room, Maddy walking in first.
“I made your bed this morning. New sheets, towels, all the linens. I also bought you some boxers and socks as well as a few other toiletries.”
Logan smiled. His room was simple with a king-sized bed that sat in the middle, a few dressers, a television, and other bits of furniture. Going to the bed, he smiled, admiring the new royal-blue comforter. On the bed was a package of boxers and socks and some clothes.
“These are nice, thank you,” he said, holding up the solid colored shirts and new denims. Then he saw a card, and smiling, opened it up.
Logan,
I am so glad you are home where you belong. I look forward to catching up with you and the time we are going to have together. This time don't leave me.
Love,
Maddy
He turned around. Seeing his teary-eyed sister, he pulled her into his grasp and held her tight. “I’m not going anywhere ever again. You’re stuck with me, messiness and all,” he said, causing her to laugh through her tears.
“Fair enough. I’m going to get back into town for a few hours. Want a pizza tonight?”
Logan nodded. Though he was careful about what he ate, he had a craving for pizza, his favorite food.
“You got it. And Maddy?” he said, as she headed to the door.
“Yeah?”
“You’re safe now.”
She nodded, then hurried out the door.