Mia Ross - Hometown Family

As they walked away, Matt was struck by how much taller his nephew had gotten. Eight years old, Kyle had a longer stride than Emily’s, but he slowed down to match her smaller steps. Responsible was the word that came to mind. He had to be, since his father had taken off four years ago, just after Emily was born, leaving Marianne to fend for herself.

“The kids were great during the funeral,” Matt said when he realized they were all waiting for him to say something.

“Thanks,” Marianne replied in the clipped, polite voice she probably used on telemarketers. “So were you.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I was.”

“You’ve been on my back since I got here,” Matt shot back. “I came as fast as I could.”

“Maybe if we’d had your new phone number, we could have reached you in time to…” Her voice trailed off, and tears started gathering in her eyes. With a frustrated sigh, she said, “I think I’ll go see if Ruthy needs help finding anything.”

As she walked away, John plunked a hand on Matt’s shoulder. “Don’t mind her. Losing Dad this way has been real tough on her and the kids.”

“It’s more like she still hasn’t forgiven me for leaving home fifteen years ago,” Matt complained.

“Actually, she understood that. It’s the never coming back she has a problem with.”

“I was back for Christmas.”

“Not last Christmas.”

“I told you.” When he realized how loud his voice was, Matt notched it down. “My boss booked a lodge in Telluride and one of his friends cancelled. I’ve always wanted to go, and all it cost me was a plane ticket.”

John didn’t respond to that. His disgusted look said it all.

“What do you want from me?” Matt demanded. He had nothing to apologize for, and he didn’t like being made to feel otherwise.

“I don’t know,” John shot back, eyes narrowing to icy blue slits. “Maybe for you to visit ’cause you want to, instead of feeling like you have to. Now that you’re in Charlotte, it’s not that far. Caty manages to get here every few weeks.”

“I have a life, y’know.”

Swooping in from the side, his baby sister, Lisa, wedged herself in between them, snaking her arms around them.

“We all have lives,” she reminded them in her peacemaker tone. “But right now, we have to stick together.”

That got their attention, and they let the pointless argument drop. They’d replayed it a hundred times at least, and Matt suspected John was as tired of it as he was.

When the porch door opened, they all glanced over to see Caty coming down the steps. Wearing an apron way too big for her, she set down on a nearby table the tray of finger sandwiches she was carrying. She’d ditched the fancy shoes, Matt noticed. Her bare feet made an interesting contrast with the buttoned-up skirt and blouse she was wearing. He wondered how her hair would look down around her shoulders, curling around those sparkling green eyes.

Get a grip, he warned himself sternly. She was very far removed from the kind of women he usually spent his time with. Then there was the whip in her voice when she basically scolded him for being male. It stung more than it should have, and he knew better than to ignore it.

Now, though, she was all warmth and caring as she hugged John and put a comforting arm around Lisa. “How are you two holding up?”

“Okay, I guess,” Lisa answered. “I didn’t get to talk to you earlier, but I was so happy to see you at the service.”

“Ethan was one of my favorite people. If he hadn’t organized that scholarship fund for me, I’d be drowning in student loans instead of just wading.”

“Ever since you were little, he knew you’d do something important when you grew up,” Lisa reminded her. “Dad just figured he was helping things along. He said, with you as his lawyer, he’d never have to worry about legal stuff again.”

“He convinced a lot of people in Harland to contribute money so I could afford to go to Boston College.” She paused with a fond smile. “It was an investment, he told them. When they needed a lawyer, they’d know one they could trust. Most of them couldn’t afford it, but they gave anyway. I’ll never forget it.”

That sounded like his father, Matt thought with more than a little pride. His dad had a knack for seeing things in people that even they didn’t know were there. If he’d seen it in Caty all those years ago, there must be something to it.

“Did Ruthy put you to work?” John asked as Caty removed her apron.

“Just a little. How’s Gina doing?”

“Fine,” he answered smoothly. “I think she’s seeing that plumber who just moved to town.”

“When I was here last, she was seeing you.”

He shrugged. “Things change.”

“There’ve been at least two since her.” Lisa ratted him out. “And those are only the ones I know about.”

“No promises, no hard feelings,” John said with a grin. “Right, Matt?”

“Don’t drag me into this,” he protested, raising his hands. “I don’t know where you learned that stuff.”

“From you,” Lisa informed him curtly. “Leading by example.”

“Anyway,” Caty said, “I’ll be in town awhile. If there’s anything you need, just let me know.”

Her interpretation made Matt wonder if she was trying to protect him from another tongue-lashing. Considering the way she’d reamed him out, it would be pretty sporting of her.

“Tomorrow’s Friday,” Lisa reminded her. “Don’t you need to get back to work?”

For some reason, Caty hesitated before saying, “I decided it was time for a visit.”

While she chatted with John and Lisa, Matt was only half listening. There was more to her extended stay, but she clearly intended to keep it to herself. Matt knew all the classic signs, and there was no missing them. She was obviously close to his family, and he’d quickly learned she wasn’t shy about speaking her mind.

Whatever she was hiding, it must be serious. He barely knew her, but the thought of the pretty lawyer being in trouble really bothered him.

* * *

Around six o’clock, the last of the relatives left and the house was empty. After all the activity, the quiet rang with a sad finality. Caty was packing the last of the dishes into Ruthy’s catering carts when the Sawyers came into the kitchen.

“I just can’t believe it.” Sinking into a chair, Lisa stared down the table at the head seat where Ethan usually sat. “He’s gone.”

As she dissolved into tears, Marianne sat beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Lise. We’ll be fine.”

“No, we won’t,” Lisa sobbed. “We won’t ever be fine again.”

Patting her back, Marianne glanced at the far counter, which was still stacked with containers of food. “What in the world?”

“Ruthy,” Caty answered, handing over a handwritten note.

“‘The fridge is full, coffee’s ready to go,’” Marianne read out loud. “‘Warming instructions on everything. If you need me, call anytime. All my prayers tonight are for you kids. God bless you all.’”

Lisa sniffled, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

Matt opened his mouth, but Marianne cut him off with a stern look and a quick shake of her head. Grimacing, he crossed the kitchen to get a glass from the cupboard and fill it with water. As he stood with his back to them and stared out the window, Caty noticed the stiffness in his broad shoulders.

At least his brother and sisters had said goodbye to Ethan. Matt would never have that chance. How on earth would he get past that?

Not that it was any of her business, she cautioned herself. He was a grown man, and he made his own decisions. Why he’d chosen to neglect his family was none of her concern. She wasn’t in a position to advise him and, even if she were, he probably wouldn’t listen. Only a fool intruded where she wasn’t wanted. Which reminded her, she really didn’t belong here right now.