“That’s for sure.”
I paused for a moment, wondering if I had any right to ask what I wanted to. “I get the sense she and your mom struggle.”
Hayes leaned back in his chair. “You’re not wrong there.”
“Why? I can tell they love each other.”
He broke off a piece of his cookie and dipped it into the frosting. “Mom held the reins pretty tight after we got Shiloh back. A lot of folks would say too tight. Everyone else understood why, but Hadley…she was so young. When she got old enough, they battled. Mom was used to me and Beckett, who simply let her have her way. Or Shiloh, who would just disappear into the barn or the fields when she didn’t want to talk about something. But Hadley…she’s always had a firecracker of a temper on her. And she doesn’t back down from anything.”
“I can see both sides.”
“So can the rest of us. It’s why Dad and I are always trying to run interference. To get them both to see the other’s perspective. But a lot of hurt has built up over the years.”
Fire lit along my throat, and I did my best to swallow it down. “I’m so sorry, Hayes. One action and so many lives were affected.” It wasn’t just Shiloh. It was every member of the Easton family. Mine, too. Even Addie was paying the price.
Hayes leaned in and grabbed the seat of my chair with both hands, pulling me close. “Don’t you dare take that on. It’s not yours. You did everything you could to right that wrong, even though it wasn’t on you.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “I guess we’re more alike than I ever knew.”
“Careful, Hayes, I might start to think you like me a little bit.”
“Heaven forbid.”
“You really didn’t have to walk me to my car.”
Stubbornness flitted across Tim’s features. “Yes, I did. And you’re just going to have to get used to it because I’m doing it from now on.”
Warmth spread through me at his words. Somewhere over the past couple of months, I’d started to develop a little community of people who genuinely cared. “I appreciate it. But I don’t think anyone’s going to jump out of the bushes in broad daylight.” I gestured around at more than a few people walking down the streets, locals and tourists alike.
“Don’t care.” Tim came to a stop in front of my SUV. “I felt like the lowest of the low after I heard what’d happened. I left you here alone, and—”
“Oh, Tim. No.” I reached out, grabbing his arm. “What happened wasn’t your fault.”
His face hardened. “Maybe not, but I could’ve stopped it.”
“You’re going to have to let that go,” I said softly.
“I’ll try to if you’ll let me walk you to your car at the end of the day.”
“I think I can live with that.” I went on impulse and threw my arms around him for a quick hug. It was so fast, he barely had time to react before I let him go again. “You’re a good man.”
Pink hit his cheeks. “I’m working on it.”
“You’re doing a good job.”
“Get in that SUV before this ground swallows me whole.”
I laughed and climbed behind the wheel, giving Tim a wave and starting the engine. He headed down the block towards his apartment over one of the shops in town. As I went to set my phone in the cupholder, it dinged.
Shay: How’s your week going?
I winced. I hadn’t exactly filled m
y best friend in on all that had gone down lately. Not the fire or my attack. But there wasn’t anything she could do. I typed out a quick response.
Me: Good. We’re about to start on shelters for the critters. Once we actually have some animals, maybe you can come to visit.