39. Landon
Chapter 39
Landon
My brother’s face was haggard, his skin sallow, but his blue eyes were clear for the first time in years as he stood attentively, listening to the judge. His dirty blond hair hung limply past his ears, and his beard needed a trim, but he stood tall, his shoulders squared as the judge read the charges from his docket. My father sat next to me, twisting a napkin nervously in his hands. Neither of us wanted this to happen, but we both knew this day would come eventually. Lyle had already gotten away with so much. He’d stolen from our father, sold and used drugs, and vandalized private property and businesses.
My chest constricted as I recalled the devastated look on Olivia’s face when she saw the front window of Sugar & Sage smashed to pieces. The fear in her eyes when her car had been carved up would haunt me for the rest of my life. Of all the people Lyle had hurt in his life, Olivia had suffered the most at his hands.
It wasn’t fair. She was a good woman with a heart of gold. She didn’t deserve all the shit he'd put her through, not then and not now. I hated myself for walking away from her, but I had no other choice. Lyle needed my support. He was my brother, my blood. I was terrified I’d lose him if I didn’t see him through this. If it was in the cards for us, Olivia and I would have another chance. But I wouldn’t get a second chance to save my brother. So that was what I was trying to do. I saw him through his recovery at the hospital. I would see him through this arraignment and then his hearing. I would make sure he knew I was here for him no matter the cost.
When the arraignment was over, we were given the opportunity to talk to Lyle before they took him away. I pulled him into my arms for a hug. His posture was rigid at first, but finally he sagged against me. There wasn’t much I could say. I wouldn’t offer him false assurances that everything would be alright. He was most likely going to prison. For how long, I wasn’t yet sure, but Lyle’s lawyer believed it would be at least a few years, maybe less with good behavior.
I pulled away and cupped my hand around the back of his neck, holding him close.
“I’m here for you,” I promised. “I’ll do whatever I can for you.” His gaze flicked past me where Kara stood, watching us with trepidation.
“Watch over Kara and Jayden. She might not want me after this,” he admitted, averting his gaze, “but I care about them.” He swallowed thickly, and I nodded.
“You have my word.” I stepped aside and motioned Kara forward. She approached tentatively, tears glistening in her eyes.
“Come here,” Lyle instructed, his voice soft and cajoling. I’d never heard him use that tone with anyone before, but it was refreshing to see this softer side to him. She curled into his chest, and he rested his chin atop her head before dropping a kiss to it. We all bid him goodbye and promised to be in attendance for the trial.
The bakery sat catty cornered to the courthouse, and without thinking, I turned toward it when we pulled out of the parking lot. I approached it slowly, wanting more than anything to stop and see Olivia, but it was best if I kept my distance for now.
“You did really good work on the bakery,” my father complimented from the passenger side.
“Thanks,” I replied absently, futilely trying to catch a glimpse of Olivia inside the shop. A sign in the window caught my eye. My body went cold, and I nearly swerved off the road.
For sale.
What the fuck?
My breath caught in my throat, and I snapped my gaze to the road, righting the truck
“Everything alright?” Dad asked.
“Yeah, I’m good,” I answered quickly, trying to shake the image of the for sale sign from my head. He clearly hadn’t noticed it, or he would be asking questions. I hadn’t told him about my split from Olivia, and he’d been too preoccupied with everything happening with Lyle to notice I hadn’t mentioned her.
“Did you still want to stop at the Bagel Bin to grab some lunch?” I asked, hoping to distract him so he didn’t ask about her. Food was the last thing on my mind, but I wanted to make sure Dad got something to eat so his blood sugar didn’t plummet.
“Sure,” he replied, but it was half-hearted. He was devastated about Lyle going to jail. In all my years, I’d only ever seen my father cry three times: the day my mom left us, when the doctors told him they’d have to amputate his leg, and the moment they cuffed my brother at the hospital entrance. I wished there was something I could do to ease his pain, but all I could do was make sure he was taken care of.
Once he was fed and had taken his afternoon medications, I dropped him off at home and drove straight to Olivia’s house. Seeing that sign today unnerved me because I knew what it meant. She was leaving Magnolia Grove for good. Her car wasn’t in the driveway when I pulled in, and panic clawed at my chest. Surely she hadn’t already moved.
I jumped out of my truck and trudged toward the door, my stomach in knots. Lifting my hand, I knocked. No answer. I knocked again, then rang the doorbell. Still nothing.
“No, no, no,” I whispered, the desperate plea leaving my lips as a chant. This couldn’t be happening. I tried again.
“Are you looking for Olivia?” I jumped at the sound and whirled around to find Minnie Montgomery, Honey’s grandmother, on the sidewalk.
“Yes, do you know where she is?” She offered me a sad smile, and my stomach sank.
“She went back to Atlanta.”
My knees threatened to buckle, and I braced my hand on the door frame. The realization of how badly I’d screwed up hit me square in the chest, and I nearly doubled over. Olivia was gone, and I only had myself to blame.