The implications weighed a thousand pounds on her heart.
“You’re right.” Raine tried to hold herself together. She was stronger than all this crying, damn it. But the thought of losing half her soul tore at her. “My heart hurts for him, and I wish I could heal his pain.”
“If I had a magic wand, I’d do it myself. It took him eight years to confide in me, and I was the bloke sharing Juliet. Only he can decide to let go of the past. I’m thinking you may be the only one who can help him.”
“Me?”
“He’d do anything not to lose you. I’m not saying opening his eyes will be easy, but I think you can do it.”
“I can’t even make that stubborn man stay for breakfast. How am I supposed to make him let go of years of guilt?”
“You’re looking at me with those beautiful eyes and the body that drives me to distraction, and you’re telling me that you don’t know how to get his attention? You may not believe it after this morning, but you turn Hammer’s head. Give him a smile and a come-hither glance. The man will fall over himself to be with you. Then you shower him with your love. And you talk to him.” He cupped her cheek. “I’ll be there with you. We’ll convince him to let go of the past.”
“What if that doesn’t work? Liam…” Raine understood that he’d run out of options, but failure terrified her. “What if he’s not ready to move on? This is our family. Our future. We don’t have years to make him see the light.” She pointed at her belly. “We have six months.”
Raine hated to sound negative. Of course she would give it her all, not only to keep their unconventional family intact but because Hammer deserved happiness. Deep down, he wanted the paradise dangling just in front of him. Maybe she needed to remind him of all they had.
“You can do it. We’ve weathered worse, love. We can survive this, too.”
Liam had a point. Marlie and Gwyneth. All the jealousy, insecurity, and fighting. The breakup, the tough reunion, the difficulty confronting their pasts. Bill, the kidnapping, the violence, the bombshells, the awful aftermath. Seth often remarked that their lives resembled a soap opera. He was right.
“Thank you for telling me. I know he would probably be angry, but I needed to hear the truth. I’ll do whatever it takes until we help him understand that Juliet’s choice wasn’t his and no one blames him.”
“Unfortunately, Juliet’s family does, and they were never shy about expressing their opinion. That hasn’t helped Hammer, either.”
Raine had never met those people, but she wanted to punch them. “That’s ridiculous!”
“They were looking for someone to blame.”
“Assholes.”
“Language…” Liam raised a brow. “You wench.”
She did her best to look contrite—but she stood by her opinion. “Do you want breakfast now? I can—”
The ringing of her cell phone broke into their conversation. She looked at the display and frowned.
Liam approached. “Is it Hammer?”
“No. That partner who works with Macen’s lawyer, the one who’s representing me in Bill’s probate.” She pressed the button to accept the call and turned on the speaker. “Hello?”
“Ms. Kendall? It’s Silas Hoffman from Barnes, Hoffman, and Laughlin. How are you today?”
“Fine. Do you have news that could resolve my father’s probate?” Not that she wanted anything from Bill’s estate except to throw a can of gasoline and a match at it. But this might be her only chance to locate River. “Has anyone found my brother?”
“That’s why I’m calling. I just received word from an army representative who informed me they’ve advised him to call me about your father’s estate.”
Raine’s knees buckled. She nearly dropped the phone. “Really? River is alive?”
In the last few months, she had often wondered during the sleepless hours of the darkest nights whether Bill had lied and somehow done away with her brother, too. Knowing that her father hadn’t was a relief. And a confusion.
Where had River been for the last dozen years? She knew he’d joined the army when he turned eighteen…but that was a long time ago. Had he been in the service since? Overseas? Or maybe when he’d left home, he had written off his family and not given a shit about his younger sisters.
“Apparently, yes,” the attorney said without offering anything else.
Raine tried to stifle her frustration. “Do you know how I can reach him?”
“I’m afraid not. The army won’t release his personal information. I only know he’s no longer active duty.”
Seth had managed to find that out weeks ago.
She sighed. “So you don’t know if he’s even in Southern California?”
Hoffman murmured a sound of regret. “I’m sorry, no. The good news is, since you’ve already filed the federal and state taxes on your father’s behalf and completed the inventory of claims versus assets, once River contacts me, we can resolve your father’s estate quickly, probably six months or less. As soon as I’ve spoken to your brother and notified him of the impending probate, I’ll let you know.”