Page 272 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Callie nodded, walking back inside, wanting so desperately to believe that Rebecca was right. For today she was going to choose to believe that everything was going to be okay.

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Nate set another huge piece of wood on the old tree stump he used for chopping and slammed the ax blade down. It felt good to watch the log splitting in half—a productive way to use his restless energy. He grabbed the next and repeated the process, finding an easy rhythm as his mind wandered back through his day—how much he’d wanted to stay home with Callie and watch her like a hawk. But when he’d come downstairs after a quick shower this morning, there had been a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and fruit waiting for him at the table. She’d kissed him, assuring him that she was all right, and he’d known that what she needed was normalcy more than him fussing and hovering. He’d spent his midmorning and early afternoon at the office, scrutinizing Bob’s and Samantha’s cases, starting from the beginning and coming up empty once again.

A vehicle pulled into the driveway, and a small smile curved Nate’s lips when he recognized the sound of Dad’s old Jeep engine.

Moments later, Dad walked around the corner of the house wearing a winter hat on his balding head. “Son. What are you up to out here?”

Nate slammed the ax down. “Fixing a few rough logs.”

Dad made a sound in his throat as he frowned. “I’m surprised they delivered wood to you like that. Doesn’t seem like Harrison’s way—not his usual attention to detail.”

“It’s just a few pieces.” Nate went after the next log. “I got my delivery when Harrison was down for the count with a blown ACL. His son was running things at the time. It probably snuck through then.”

Dad nodded. “I guess that happens when a seventeen-year-old is in charge.”

“He did a pretty good job.”

Dad breathed deep as he stuck his hands in his jeans pockets and rocked back on his heels. “I miss this place—the smell of the air. You kids.”

Nate picked up more wood and started the process all over again. “We miss you too. It’s nice having you home.”

“With Gwen’s due date getting closer, I imagine you’ll be seeing a lot more of us.”

“Good. You can keep Thomas off my back for a while.” He swung the ax harder with his frustration.

“Kay mentioned he’s been on your case.”

Nate shrugged then kept going. “He’s been a little tough to take.”

“Hell, Nate, I imagine he’s been a huge pain in your ass.”

Nate grinned as Dad did. “A fucking nightmare.”

Dad laughed. “I don’t doubt it.”

“It crossed my mind to knock him out a couple of times, but then I would have needed to arrest myself…”

Dad chuckled as he shook his head. “You do a damn fine job. No one can argue otherwise.”

He tossed away a splintered piece of log. “I guess.”

“How’s Callie doing? Mom mentioned briefly that she had a rough night.”

After introductions this morning, Nate had pulled Mom aside and told her about Callie’s late-night ordeal. Plans had been changed, and instead of Mom heading over to the Sanderson mansion, she’d stayed here at the house to give Callie a hand. “She’s hanging in there. Doesn’t want to talk about it, so I’m letting it go for now.”

“How are you doing?”

Nate exhaled a long, quiet breath. “I’m hanging in there too.”

“Seems to be a lot of talk going around.”

Nate flared his nostrils, recognizing that the Town Hall meeting had done little to help the increasingly tense situation. “The gossip mill never stops turning.”

Dad nodded. “Been hearing it at the bakery and the diner. Pretty much everywhere. That certainly hasn’t changed.”

Nate went after another piece of wood. “Probably never will.”