Carol Ericson - Circumstantial Memories

“Yeah, the family is throwing a big party for the prodigal son.”

“They didn’t throw one for you.”

“Different situation.”

“Because you’re not home to stay?”

“Something like that.” His gaze slid sideways to Julia, pleating the folds of the sheet in her lap. “Are you coming to the homecoming party?”

“Sure thing. I have to be there to welcome my new deputy sheriff.”

“Who’ll be minding the store?”

“Zack’s got it covered.”

That gave Ryder a warm and fuzzy feeling. “Okay, see you there, and keep me updated on Brody.”

Ryder ended the call and tossed the phone on the bed. “That’s it. Brody’s car took a tumble off Highway 160. He died in the crash.”

Julia sawed her bottom lip. “That’s the same highway I went over.”

“It’s a dangerous road.”

“But I crashed in a snowstorm. It’s summer, and we haven’t even had a summer drizzle.”

“That highway is a hazard any time of the year, especially if you’re agitated. You’re safe now, babe.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.”

Ryder scooped her against his chest and stroked her hair. “You’re safe.”

“WHY’D YOU DO IT?”

“The LAPD doesn’t have enough officers to police that city. The department is understaffed and underappreciated. Time to go.” Rafe shrugged and took a long pull from his beer.

Ryder kicked the leg of his little brother’s chair. “The truth. It was a woman, wasn’t it?”

Rafe studied the label on his bottle and scratched a corner with his fingernail. “Two women.”

“Unbelievable. Do Pam and Dad know they owe the presence of their darling boy to a ménage à trois gone bad?”

“Whoa, who said anything about a threesome? I take my women one at a time…on alternate days.” Rafe stretched his lanky legs in front of him, crossing his arms behind his head.

“And they had a problem with that? I’ve seen the women you date.”

“Nothing wrong with an air-headed bimbo. Much less work. Why are we talking about my personal life when yours is so much more interesting for a change? I was back in town for five minutes when I heard you and the amnesia chick were an item and I’m an uncle.”

Crossing his arms, Ryder bunched his fists against his biceps. Rafe could make light of the women he dated, but he’d better not try that crap with Julia.

“Don’t call her that. She’s almost completely regained her memory, and yeah, I’m a dad if you can believe that.”

“That’s a hard one to swallow from the antifamily man.” A smile quirked the corner of Rafe’s mouth. “But that’s one cute little girl…Shelby, not Julia. Don’t punch me.”

“I didn’t realize you were around long enough to meet them.”

“I saw them around a few times in the weeks I was here before heading off to the academy.”

“They’ll be at the party, and I don’t want you hitting on Julia or otherwise being an ass.” Ryder stood up when he saw Gracie Malone coming up the drive, carrying an apple pie. Charlie followed behind, grasping a crate with two more pies.

Rafe shook his head. “That’s cold, dude. I don’t hit on my brothers’ girlfriends.”

“What about Sheila Cramer?”

“High school? You’re bringing up high school? I’ve matured since then.” Rafe’s boyish grin cracked his face.

“Yeah, right.” Ryder jogged down the porch steps and reached for Gracie’s pie. “Let me get that for you, Gracie. I’ll bring it to Pam in the kitchen.”

“She must be bursting at the seams now that she has a granddaughter.” Gracie’s nose twitched. “I’m sure that put Millie Stoker’s nose out of joint, because she set herself up as Shelby ’s adoptive grandmother. I always thought that was greedy of her. She has plenty of grandchildren of her own, which is more than some of us can claim.”

She shot Charlie a withering look, and he hunched his shoulders, which made him look even more like the Incredible Hulk.

Turning toward the door with the warm pie balanced on his palms, Ryder compressed his lips. He thought Pam was bad. He pitied the poor guy.

An hour later, Siverhill’s locals filled up the McClintocks’ ranch house and spilled onto the patio in the back of the house. Ryder circled his parents’ large oak dining room table, which almost groaned beneath the platters and bowls of home-cooked food. In Silverhill they did things old-school. Rafe had some adjustments ahead of him.

Ryder dropped some ribs on his plate, followed by some of Millie’s potato salad, and spread some butter on a hot roll straight out of Mrs. Ballard’s oven.

While he ate and chatted, he kept one eye on the entrance. Julia and Shelby hadn’t shown up yet. Because of all the small-town gossip, he and Julia decided to break the news to Shelby yesterday that she had a father. They’d held their breaths while Shelby wrinkled her small nose. Then she patted Ryder’s knee and asked, “Can I call you ‘Daddy’ now?”

Totally choked him up. Julia had smiled, but a small crease appeared between her brows. She still didn’t completely trust him and she was probably wise not to. He didn’t know how long he could remain a father to Shelby.

Then he heard a high-pitched giggle and a little whirling dervish with flying golden curls was barreling straight toward him. He caught Shelby in his arms and knew he’d be her father forever.

Tucking her under one arm, he held his hand out to Julia. Her fingers curled around his. “Sorry we’re late, but I let Shelby nap longer than usual so she could stay up for the party.”

“That’s a good excuse, isn’t it, Shelby?”

Shelby kicked her legs out behind her and squealed.

“I think it’s time I met the happy family.” Rafe sauntered up to Julia, his hands shoved into his tight blue jeans, a lazy smile on his face.

Ryder drew his finger across his throat. “Julia, this is my worthless brother, Rafe. Rafe, this is Julia Rousseau and Shelby.”

“Worthless? How can he be worthless? He’s the new deputy sheriff in town.”

“Why, thank you, ma’am.” Rafe captured Julia’s hand and kissed it. Then he tweaked one of Shelby ’s curls. “Hey, gorgeous.”

Shelby slapped his hand away, and Ryder laughed. “You have the right idea, Shelby. And don’t let the badge fool you, Julia. He’s bad to the bone.”

“Speaking of the badge, is your boss here tonight?” Julia swept her arm around the room.

Ryder shot her a glance. “Why, did you hear anything more about Brody?”

“No, but I thought the San Juan County Coroner’s Office was doing a preliminary autopsy today.”

Rafe took a break from pinching Shelby ’s painted toes, twisting his head over his shoulder. “Autopsy’s done. That’s why Ballard stayed at the station. He’ll be here later.”

Ryder hoisted Shelby in his arms. “Let’s get this over with and find my parents.”

“Nice to meet you, Rafe.” Julia waved.

“Don’t encourage him.”

Ryder circled the group where Pam and his father were holding court, commandeering the conversation as usual. He’d dealt with his dominating parents by leaving, Rafe laughed it off or charmed his way through it and Rod stayed and fought it out with them every day.

He grabbed Julia’s and Shelby’s hands and took the plunge, and then gritted his teeth while Pam fawned over Shelby. Pam told anyone who would listen about Shelby ’s riding lessons and how she was a McClintock through and through. He rolled his eyes at Julia, who tilted her head at him.

Standing on tiptoes, she whispered in his ear, “What’s wrong?”

He pulled her out of the clump of people hanging on his mother’s every word. “Give them ten minutes more and they’ll have Shelby ’s entire future mapped out for her.”