Page 16 of Love Again

Chapter Five

Devon

The drive home flies fast. There’s so much on my mind, I’m on autopilot.

After pulling into The Inn’s parking lot, I kill the engine. It’s four o’clock on a Saturday, and Claire’s finishing up haying Salty. She sent a text earlier, inviting me over for snacks on the back porch. Her boyfriend, Finn Colton, has heaters set up on the porch facing the sea, and it’s a nice spot.

Salty nickers from his corral between The Inn and the clinic. He’s a rescue horse that nearly died in a barn fire. Afterward, my sister took him in. She wouldn’t even name him because she was so certain he wouldn’t make it. But he did, and now his chocolate coat flashes. Claire has curried out a lot of his winter coat, and he gleams.

I can feel the heat thrown by the stationary heater. It looks like a cross between a thick umbrella and a top hat. There are two at either end of the long porch.

Chloe’s already sitting in a wicker chair, and Claire hands me a glass of wine. They’re both beer drinkers, so this added thought is touching.

Laurel bangs her way out the back door and onto the porch with some hummus and pretzels.

And then I realize there’s something up.

“Where are all the guys?” I say, taking a sip of wine. Finn, Bryce, and Mateus are nowhere to be seen.

“Oh, they’re around. Probably in a meeting,” says Claire.

“Let’s have fun and have a girl chat,” says Laurel.

I glance at all three of them. “A girl chat. Is this where you tell me to get out there and date? Because I’ve told you before, you don’t need to worry about that. I’m fine.”

“No, actually. We’ve been over that ground, and you’ve assured us that you’re fine . . . so you’re fine.” Laurel takes a swig of beer and then swirls the contents in the bottle.

Claire, the one who was put in charge after Mom and Dad died, is not one to measure her words when there’s something she needs to say. Responsibility has taught her the beauty and necessity in direct communication.

“We met a friend of yours today.”

The red wine burns the back of my throat. “What?”

“We met a friend of yours from Colorado today,” echoes Laurel with added information.

What was he doing here?

For the first time in years, I suddenly feel a close affinity to Chloe. She was embarrassed by her years trapped in a cult she didn’t want to be in. She did things there she found humiliating, and she couldn’t forgive herself. When I finally coaxed her to try to rejoin the family, it took months for her to realize everyone really did love her.

She understands the necessity and the trauma of a secret.

Now, I glance at her.

“Hey, guys,” says Chloe, “Devon has made clear that Colorado is not a topic for conversation.” She turns to me. “This Luke Walker guy, recognized Laurel. You two look a lot alike.”

I clear my throat. “We sisters are all obviously related.”

“He seems really nice, Devon,” says Laurel. Her smile is getting on my nerves.

“Okay, you know what? I don’t know what he told you about us, but—”

Chloe interrupts me almost immediately. “He said you both worked together as smokejumpers, and he’s here visiting his brother.”

Claire starts to laugh.

“I know, I know. It’s hilarious he’s David Keller’s brother. Half-brother. I don’t think it’s all that funny, but I’m glad you guys can appreciate the humor in this.”

“Here’s the thing,” says Laurel. “He’s fucking hot.”