CHAPTER 20
Avery’s confused voice penetrated the edge of my exhausted fog. “My dad called me and left a voicemail.”
“When?” Lucas asked.
“About two hours ago. We must’ve been packing to leave the hotel.”
I stretched a little in the backseat of the truck, where the momentum of Lucas speeding down the highway toward home had lulled me into a long-overdue nap. My muscles were sore, that was to be expected, but other than that I’d gotten a clean bill of health from the emergency room crew. They, like the medevac paramedics, expressed disbelief that I’d chosen to go that way, straight up instead of out, but they understood. In the same situation, we all did the same thing — whatever it took.
“And?” Lucas didn’t know how rare it was to get a phone call from Jim Kent.
“He doesn’t just call,” I interjected. “What did he say?”
Avery turned around. “To call him back. I’m sorry if I woke you.” She ran concerned eyes over my face.
I was pretty sure I looked like shit. I might’ve found Dylan and Cam and gotten them out in less than a day, but it was a long day. We’d barely slept last night after getting home from the hospital, and it hadn’t taken the edge off my exhaustion.
“Just resting my eyes.” I smiled before I leaned forward, reaching into her hyper-prepared road-trip tote to hand Annabelle another book. “Are you going to call him?”
She pressed the button and held the phone to her ear, looking worried. “Hi, Daddy. We’re on our way home now. What’s up?”
There was a pause, and I registered the change in Avery’s facial expression. Her eyes widened and her cheeks paled.
“Someone was in the house?”
Shit. No way. No fucking way. Two things happened simultaneously after Avery asked her father that question. One, I grabbed my iPad and plugged in Annabelle’s special headphones, placing them gently over her ears, and two, Lucas swore out loud and stepped on the gas a little harder.
“Speaker phone,” I requested. “Please.”
Avery clicked the audio button and her hand trembled slightly as she placed the phone on the center console so we could all hear it.
“What happened?” she asked her father.
“We got a call from Mrs. Vancity next door, telling me that she thought y’all were supposed to be out of town, so she was concerned when she saw a man through the window of your kitchen last night.”
A heartbeat, then two. All of the air felt like it had been sucked out of the cab. I glanced at Annabelle quickly, but she was engrossed in her movie and not paying attention to us. Good. Better. I didn’t want her to know a single thing about this. I didn’t want Avery to know, either, but it was too late for that. And besides, I’d promised her full disclosure.
“I was knee-deep in muck out, so it took me an hour or so to get over to your place, but I’m here now. Fox is with you?” her dad asked.
“Yes sir. Jim,” I amended.
“Lucas is here too, Daddy.”
“Good. You’ll want to do your own check, but I can’t see much out of place. The side window by the kitchen door is broken, glass everywhere, but I’m gonna clean that up before y’all come home with Annabelle.”
“Nothing missing?” Lucas asked.
“I can’t tell for sure, but I don’t think so. Avery, you keep cash in this house?”
“No, not really. Maybe fifty or sixty dollars in my dresser, just in case.”
I darted my eyes quickly to her. That wasn’t enough. In this particular situation, it was a good thing because that meant less to steal, but on the regular… I wanted her to know she had access to more, should she ever need it.
“Did you check the bedrooms, Jim? The closet safe?” I asked. Avery would freak out if she knew how much cash I kept in there. I was fairly certain she’d put the key I’d given her on her keyring and then forgotten all about it.
“I did, and it all looks okay. A couple things knocked over here and there, but I think y’all got off lucky for a break-in.”
There was plenty Jim wasn’t saying, and all three of us in the car were thinking it. Who else would break into our tiny house, in a tiny town, on a safe street in a neighborhood where everyone knows each other?
Avery’s dad cleared his throat. “I went next door and talked to Mrs. Vancity — from her description I don’t think it’s any surprise who came in here.”
“J.D.” I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice.
Avery looked surprised, but I wasn’t, and Lucas didn’t seem to be either. I felt like I’d kept her in the loop, but she didn’t ask many questions and I didn’t volunteer anything extra. Now I felt like I should have, because she was obviously unprepared for this, and the look on her face made my fists clench.
J.D. was testing me, but if he was looking for results he was going about it all the wrong way. I knew he would surface, that he couldn’t leave well enough alone until a meeting with me or the lawyer. I wasn’t sure what he expected to prove by breaking and entering at my house, but it wouldn’t bode well long-term for him in any legal situation. And it definitely would’ve been detrimental to his immediate health if I’d been home at the time.
Or if Avery and Annabelle had been home alone. My fists clenched again.
“Can’t say as I disagree with you, Fox,” my dad said.
“Thank you, Daddy, for checking on the house,” Avery said in a small voice.
“No problem, chickie. I’m going to head over to the hardware store, pick up some wood to board this window. I’ll see y’all when you get home.”
“Give us about an hour, Mr. Kent.” Lucas changed lanes smoothly, focusing all of his attention on the road.
Avery jabbed at the button to hang up the phone, looking so upset that I almost asked Lucas to pull over so I could take her in my arms. It wouldn’t make it okay, it wouldn’t fix anything, but it might take that look off her face.
“Avery.”
She shook her head. “I’m such a fool.”
I slid as close to her as my seatbelt would allow, turning her face toward me. “Look at me.”
“You tried to tell me that this was a big deal, that J.D. was acting strangely, but I didn’t listen. I didn’t ask enough questions, and now he’s here in Brancher and I don’t know what’s going on.”
I was incredulous. Did she somehow think that this was her fault? “Not true. You listened to me, you agreed when I said that we should bring Annabelle out to Big Bend. I can’t predict J.D.’s actions and neither can you, but I know when a man is unstable. We took every precaution.”
“Then why do I feel sick, like I got socked in the stomach?”
“He broke into your house, Avery. It’s a violation, it’s okay to feel upset about it.” Lucas tightened his hands on the steering wheel. “I’m upset about it.”
“Mama?” Annabelle lifted the headphones from her ears. “Are we almost home?”
I slid back into my seat, releasing Avery’s cheek. “Just a little bit longer, Bells.”
“Will you read this to me, Fox?” Annabelle asked sweetly, offering me one of her storybooks.
“Is it the pirate one? That’s my favorite.”
I could make things normal for Annabelle. I would do the very best I could. There was plenty of time for life to show her firsthand how disappointing, frightening, and all-around messed up it could be. I’d keep it wonderful for her as long as possible. Forever, if I had my way.
Annabelle giggled, and as there was nothing I could do right this minute, and despite my anger and annoyance, I pushed everything aside and opened the book.
* * *
Heather was waiting in the driveway when we pulled up in the truck. I saw Jim Kent come out of the door to stand behind her, raising his hand in greeting as Lucas turned off the engine.
“What are you doing here?” Avery hopped out of the cab and gave Heather a huge hug.
“Your mom called me, told me what happened. I can’t believe it. Are they sure it was J.D?” she said in a low voice as I came around the side of the truck with a drowsy Annabelle in my arms.
Avery shrugged one shoulder, darting a glance at Annabelle who blinked at us sleepily. I carefully transferred Annabelle over to her while Heather grabbed Avery’s backpack and turned to head inside.
“We’ll be right in.” I gestured to the bags, but really I wanted a minute to talk to Jim without watching what I said. I skimmed my lips over Avery’s cheek, and she pressed her face against mine for a second like she needed to be closer.
I knew she was really rattled by all this J.D. shit, and my anger flared up again. He’d scared my wife, made her worry, disturbed our home, and violated our privacy. Over what? Money that would only put a few bandaids over his self-destructive tendencies? It was fucking unbelievable.
After the girls disappeared inside, Jim helped us as we unloaded the truck. “Got everything cleaned up,” he said. “Fixed the window for now, too.”
I nodded, hefting the duffle Avery packed for me out of the truck’s bed. “Appreciate it.”
“I know there’s wheels turning here. Mind if I ask what you have planned?” Jim set Annabelle’s little bag on the cement driveway.
“Find J.D.,” I said.
“Security overhaul,” Lucas replied at the same time.
Jim looked from me to him, his expression serious. “He had a lot of nerve coming here. Any idea what he’s after?”
“I can only assume he was coming over to make a scene, and when we weren’t home he decided to come in and look around.”
I hated that I didn’t know J.D. well enough to know what he was capable of. When I’d told Avery to bring Annabelle with us to Big Bend, I was erring on the side of caution. Now I was glad I had — my gut-check was still accurate, even after the accident. I was holding everything that mattered to me as close as possible.
“And now?” Jim asked.
“We make sure this, or anything remotely resembling it, never happens again,” I said firmly.
Lucas shook his head. “Things have gotten complicated with the adoption situation, but we’ll handle it.”
Jim looked me right in the eye. “I know you will.” He pulled his keys from his pocket. “I’ve got to head on to the diner. You need anything from me, that’s where I’ll be.”
After we shook hands in the driveway, Lucas followed me up the porch with our bags, where I opened the door carefully under the assumption that Annabelle might’ve fallen asleep. After crossing the threshold I could faintly hear Heather and Avery’s hushed voices coming from the other room.
The house looked the same, nothing out of place, nothing amiss. Only Avery would know that for certain, but it was a relief to confirm that J.D. hadn’t trashed the place. I felt my blood settle a bit, my adrenaline abating for the first time since we’d heard the news. I could fix this. I could make sure that Avery felt safe in our home no matter what.
Lucas and I had just set down the bags when I registered Heather’s voice.
“How are you?” she asked Avery in a stage whisper.
“It’s been a very dramatic forty-eight hours,” Avery sighed softly.
“The boys are okay, though?”
“Yeah. Fox was amazing, like usual.”
Lucas rolled his eyes at me as he silently toed his high-top sneakers off by the door.
“He and Lucas had a hunch that the Owens brothers were further away than anyone suspected, and he found them quick, considering. The younger one was hurt badly, but the doctors think he’ll be fine.”
“That man is like a beautiful, blond superhero.”
Lucas smirked and socked me in the shoulder. I shot him a dirty look as I kicked off my boots. “Shut up,” I mumbled, turning to head into the living room.
We heard Avery laugh quietly. “Pretty much.” She paused. “And what about his brother?”
“His brother… is like that time I made hot chocolate with whole milk and melted fudge. I can’t go back and I’m pissed that I know what it tastes like because now I want it all the time,” Heather huffed.
Lucas stopped short and I took the opportunity to return his punch with a harder one of my own. It required everything in my power to keep a straight face as I kept walking into the living room. I would never let him hear the end of this. Heather calling me superhero man-candy was funny — comparing Lucas to a Starbucks wet dream was hilarious.
I led the way in, smiling when I saw Avery staring at Heather with wide eyes and Annabelle curled up fast asleep on the couch. Lucas was right behind me, his usual swagger somewhat stilted when he entered the room and locked eyes with Heather.
They’d been conspicuously avoiding each other since we got out of the truck, not even a glance between them, but after Heather’s hot chocolate analogy the tension grew exponentially. Avery gave me the side-eye and raised her eyebrows in Lucas’ direction, indicating the weird stare-down the two of them had going.
I wanted to laugh but kept my face poker-serious while I gave Avery a minute shrug as if to say who knew? She smiled, and I quickened my step to cross the room and sit on the floor in front of the couch, pulling her into my lap.
“Hey, sunshine. Your dad left, he had to get to the diner.”
Avery nodded, her eyes brightening when I used her newly remembered nickname. It fit her — now I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever forgotten it.
“Hi.” She relaxed slightly, and I wrapped my arms loosely around her waist.
We all watched as Lucas decided to park his ass awkwardly in the small armchair instead of the couch. I hid my grin in Avery’s hair, easy to do because all I wanted was to press my lips against the skin of her neck and move on from there. The remaining tension in her body was evident even as she leaned into me. If we were alone right now, I could make her forget all of the bullshit we had going on. We only needed five minutes but I wanted at least an hour.
Lucas cleared his throat. “So.”
He had everyone’s attention now except Heather, and obviously Annabelle, who was still fast asleep. Heather was pointedly examining a photo collage on the living room wall as though it was the most interesting thing she’d ever seen and not, in fact, a group of photos that she herself was featured in and that she’d probably looked at a thousand times.
“We need to talk about home security.” I broke the tension.
Avery twisted around in my lap to look at me curiously. “Home security?” she asked.
“Fox, I know I told you the other day that these things don’t happen in Brancher,” Heather began. “And as far as I’m concerned, they still don’t. But maybe you have a point, even though this was a specific incident.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Lucas disagreed. “Until the J.D. situation is resolved and he’s out of town, we need to take a few minor precautions.”
“What kind of precautions?” Avery ignored the death glare that Heather shot Lucas when he dared to somewhat argue with her.
“Rekeying the locks, for one. Installing a few deadbolts. I’d like to put in better window locks as well, and maybe even a wireless alarm system,” I said.
Any other day, Avery probably would’ve told me that all of that sounded excessive, that we were perfectly safe in the tiny Brancher bubble, but today had proven her wrong. She was nervous, on edge. I hated that J.D. had the power to make her uncomfortable. As much as I loved when she reached for me, wanting to be close, I never wanted it to be out of fear.
“Look, in all likelihood, J.D. was drunk when he came over here. I don’t know if he meant to break in, or if he was just too belligerent to realize what he was doing, but the bottom line is that if he tries it again, I’d rather he were less successful.” Lucas ran his hands through his hair. “And really, you people have an incredibly lax outlook on security.”
To my surprise, Avery stifled a laugh at Lucas’ frustrated expression. “Sorry,” she said. “Everything is inappropriately amusing to me today.”
I ran a hand down her back in what I hoped was a comforting manner. She’d been through a lot in the past forty-eight hours. Hell, in the past eight weeks. Avery was strong, but maybe it was all starting to get to her a little. Otherwise, she was adjusting incredibly well to her life being slightly nuts and somehow managing to find the humor in it. If I knew my girl, I’d bet on the latter.
“I have two conditions,” she continued.
“Is that a yes?” I asked.
She narrowed her eyes at me good-naturedly. “One, I want the all-in-one alarm that monitors fire and carbon monoxide too. It makes sense that if we’re going to do it, we might as well upgrade the existing detectors and everything else. Two, I don’t want Annabelle to see you installing anything. I don’t want to scare her.”
“Done and done,” I said, kissing Avery softly.
Lucas stood up. “We’ll head into Midland. I should be able to find everything we need there.”
“When Annabelle wakes up, maybe you could take her out for a while so we can get everything set up,” I suggested. This condition of Avery’s worked in my favor. It would definitely be better if she was gone while I drilled holes into the walls.
“C’mon over to my house,” Heather said, speaking up for the first time since Lucas cut her off. “I’m trying out a new buttercream recipe.”
“I have two conditions,” I began, and Heather and Avery laughed. If we were going to play up the humorous side of this, I could do that. “One, that the buttercream makes its way onto a cake and that cake makes its way back home to me. And two,” I pointed to Lucas, “either you apologize for whatever stupid shit you did, or Heather cuts you some slack. You guys can decide which way that one goes.”