Three months later...
India stood at the window, looking out at Rod, who was playing catch with Van and Cassia. Cassia was too young to be very good, but what she lacked in skill she made up for in enthusiasm. She had to be in the middle of everything Rod did—and he loved it. He doted on her so much, India now feared he’d be the one to spoil her instead of her grandparents. She hadn’t heard from them since they’d dropped Cassia off, but at least they hadn’t acted on their threat to sue for custody. And she hoped they’d come around eventually, for her daughter’s sake.
When Van caught a particularly difficult throw, his smile stretched almost from ear to ear, which made India smile, too. So it surprised her when she felt tears running down her face. A lot had changed in the past fifteen months. She’d had to completely rebuild her life. All she had from before was Cassia, the money Charlie had left her and a few treasured pieces of art she hadn’t been able to part with. The rest she’d sold. Putting it up in her new house just hadn’t felt right—smacked too much of hanging on to the past. She didn’t need it to feel close to Charlie, anyway. In spite of everything, she could sometimes feel his presence as if he stood beside her, looking on in approval.
This was one of those moments, probably because she’d just heard from Detective Flores. The ballistics tests had finally been completed on the gun Sebastian had brought to the motel. They had the weapon that killed Charlie.
God, she missed her husband. Still. If not for Sebastian, she would’ve continued to be happy with Charlie and the life they had together. She remembered being fulfilled with her art and her interests, the importance of his work and their little girl.
But now she was fulfilled in a different way, a much more personal way. Rod’s job wasn’t nearly as demanding, so he was able to invest much more of his time in her and Cassia. Never had she felt more important to someone.
Dashing a hand over her face to dry her cheeks, she went to blow her nose. Then she carried a jug of lemonade and paper cups from the house.
“Ready for a cold drink?” she called.
The kids rushed over, so she poured them each a glass before carrying one over to Rod.
“Careful, I’m sweaty,” he said when she leaned in to kiss him.
“I don’t care,” she said. “I’m so happy to have you in my life.”
“Look at them kissing each other,” Cassia whispered loudly to Van.
India was chuckling at her daughter’s reaction as she pulled away, but Rod caught her hand. “That was nice,” he teased. “I must be doing something right.”
“You make me happy,” she said.
“You don’t mind living out here in Whiskey Creek?”
“I’ll live anywhere with you.”
“You’re in it for the long haul, aren’t you?”
Sometimes he still seemed surprised by that.
“Absolutely.” After what his mother had done, she knew he had some deep-seated abandonment issues. Although he never acted needy, if he believed he might get hurt, he tried not to care. But she knew he liked to hear her say she wasn’t going to change her mind or suddenly stop loving him.
The kids were already finished with their lemonade and calling for him to throw the ball. She thought he’d set her aside and continue the game. Instead, he kissed her again. “I’ve never loved anyone like I love you,” he said.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE SECRET SISTER by Brenda Novak.