Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Something seemed off with Mia.
Gabriella hated leaving her behind as she drove over to the Hasting family reunion. The girl had been quiet and withdrawn since midweek.
The road was quiet and the weather had cleared up beautifully for the event, which would now be mostly outdoors at Lucky’s Grocery, also known as Lucky’s Back Porch, a popular summer gathering spot for locals.
Clayton had taken his motorcycle and left early that morning to help Sam set up for the foster gathering.
Gabriella had stayed behind while Mia slept in, hoping she could convince the girl to attend the event with her as Mia planned to put in an appearance eventually.
But Mia had been adamant that Davis wouldn’t be finished working until dinnertime and she’d take Pete’s car over herself then.
While Gabby didn’t love that plan, she also hated to impose martial law on a girl who had been mostly independent for so long.
Besides, she’d be at the reunion herself to keep an eye on the couple and see how they interacted.
Mia had given Gabriella no reason to doubt her.
Gabby had the benefit of being her confidante for too long to start imagining the worst of the girl now.
So Gabby shook off her unrest and focused on the road ahead of her.
Warm sunlight slanted in through the passenger window of her rental car as she neared the town square that backed onto Main Street.
Already, cars were lining the street, a sure sign she wasn’t the first to arrive at the Hasting family event.
Hoping to enjoy the day for Clay’s sake most of all, Gabriella told herself that Mia was just upset about her father.
Understandably so, given that Pete Yancy had been in and out of consciousness since entering the hospital, and more belligerent than usual the few times he’d been coherent.
Twice, he’d thrown out visitors—his own offspring—who’d been kind enough to try and sit with him, accusing them of “gawking” and threatening to call security.
But Gabby couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to it than that. Mia had seemed to put her frustrations with Clay and Gabby behind her enough to have normal conversations, sparing them the extended silent treatment that could wreak havoc on a relationship.
Mia hadn’t been terribly chatty, either.
And since midweek the girl had been jumpy and nervous.
When Gabriella had asked her about it, she’d insisted she was fine.
Normally, Gabby might have worried about the new boy in her life, but she’d met Davis Reed after school Wednesday and she’d liked him right away.
Liked how Mia seemed with him—sweet and a little enamored.
What was she missing? And how was she supposed to pry it out of a girl who’d clammed up tighter than a hermetically sealed door when it came to her deepest thoughts?
Promising herself to keep a close eye on Mia this afternoon at the reunion, Gabriella parked her car close to Last Chance Vintage.
She peered in through the shop window to see if Erin Finley was there, wanting to thank her for giving Mia a chance to work off the clothing debt at the store, but Gabriella didn’t recognize the woman at the register so she hurried down the street toward Lucky’s.
On weekend summer nights, Lucky’s Grocery turned into an outdoor rib joint with live music and picnic tables dragged over from the town gazebo.
Zach had told her the live music and dancing brought out people in droves, which was good for local businesses.
All the vendors on the town square stayed open later and did more business because of it.
Lucky’s had been in operation when Gabriella lived in Heartache, but at that time, there hadn’t been any “Back Porch” events.
As she neared the park that backed up to the store, she could see kids running around on the playground near the gazebo while moms clutched disposable coffee cups.
A bunch of white lights hung from low tree branches, and a handful of patio heaters lined the tables on the wide deck.
No doubt those would all be in use after sunset, but right now her phone weather app showed sixty-four degrees.
A handful of musicians joked around on a sound system, running mic checks and tuning instruments.
She thought she recognized one of the Finley brothers—Mack, she guessed—helping haul a large amplifier out of a pickup truck bed and into position near the temporary dance floor set up on the grass.
Someone else jogged out to him with a long lead cord, and as soon as that was hooked up, the sound check became clearer.
The musicians cheered, breaking into a spontaneous bluegrass riff to celebrate.
“Gabriella!”
Hearing her name called from the direction of the main building, she peered through a small crowd setting up food stands.
More pickup trucks were parked there with tailgates down, spilling out cases of beer and soda, stacks of rolls, paper goods and coolers.
Overhead, she spotted a handmade banner reading Happy Reunion Hasting Family strung between two tall trees, but didn’t see anyone she knew.
Until a pair of khaki-clad legs climbing down a ladder turned into a whole person.
Her brother, Zach.
She quickened her step toward him and he did the same, artfully dodging a couple of people who shouted greetings his way and looked like they would have stopped to talk.
No surprise to her, Heartache’s mayor was a popular guy around here.
“Hey, sis.” Reaching her, he pulled her in for a hug and tugged her ponytail as if she was twelve. Not that she minded. She had always adored her big brother. “It’s the first time all week I’ve seen you without a certain someone glued to your side. Figured I’d better get my hug in fast.”
“I couldn’t hold Sam’s hand anymore, now could I?
Amy Finley would have my head,” she joked, linking arms with Zach and strolling with him to a quieter part of the lawn outside the setup frenzy.
Of course, her long-ago crush on Zach’s best friend was hardly a secret.
“Clay has been really good to be with me through this whole week of court.”
She’d gladly accepted a role in helping him get to know Mia in exchange for his company during the trial, welcoming Clay into the in-law accommodations each day even though he could have stayed in the main house.
They’d fixed dinners together. Laughed together.
And after Mia went to her room for the night…
they’d wound up in Gabriella’s bed more evenings than not.
“You didn’t have to attend the trial, you know,” Zach reminded her.
“Yes, I did.” She understood that more with each passing day of testimony against Jeremy Covington, with each exhibit showing how he’d targeted young women, but also accessible women who wound up in his quarry alone at night.
“I wish I could have spoken out against him in court, but at least my testimony is on file. Part of Exhibit 3-A, right?” She squeezed his arm lightly.
“I need to see him convicted. Close up.”
They paused at a random picnic table someone must have dragged too far to one side of the park area. They took a seat beside each other so they could face the reunion proceedings.
“I wish you didn’t have to go through any of it, but I’m glad it sounds like you’re doing okay during the trial.
” Zach’s jacket fell open as he took a seat, because—true to his well-dressed nature—he wore khakis and a navy blazer while the rest of the world was in cargo pants and long-sleeved tees.
“And I was only teasing about Clayton. I couldn’t be happier to see him beside you in court every day.
No one should have to go through this without as much support as possible. ”
“How’s Heather doing?” she asked, curious about the hint of sadness she heard in her brother’s voice.
“She’s handling it well mentally and emotionally.” Gently he pounded the heel of his hand against the wooden bench as he spoke, a soft thump that reverberated through her. “Physically? She’s going through a rough patch with the autoimmune stuff.”
Zach’s fiancée had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis—or rheumatoid disease—Heather had told her in an email recently when she explained more about it. The condition had hit her fast and hard.
“I’m so sorry to hear it. No matter how strong she is emotionally, the physical part has to be really draining.” She covered Zach’s hand—the one closer to her—with hers.
“She wanted to be here today. Was hoping to play a set this afternoon, in fact.” He pounded harder against the bench before releasing a breath. “But she’s exhausted and her fingers are flaring up so it hurts to play guitar. I didn’t want to leave her, but—”
“I’m sure she wanted you to be here.” Gabriella hated to think of Zach’s vibrant fiancée hurting like that. It seemed so unfair to have a disease that compromised her ability to play an instrument when she was so incredibly talented. “And maybe it’s easier for her to sleep when she’s on her own.”
“I ended up getting us a house in Franklin for the rest of the week, hoping she’d be more comfortable.” He shrugged and looked more lost than she’d ever seen him. “I hate not knowing how to help.”
Touched, she tipped her head to his shoulder and wished there was something more she could do. Anything. But there wasn’t. Sometimes comfort and support had to be enough.
“Of course you do.” She thought about how many times he’d taken care of her. “You’re the best at fixing things for me. The older I get, the more I realize how kick-ass you were to get me out of Heartache and…make sure I stayed safe.”
Not just from Jeremy Covington. But from herself. Her despair.
None of which she had to spell out for Zach. He understood her like no one else.