Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
Three weeks later, Shane still couldn't believe this was his life.
They practically lived together, taking turns staying at each other's houses.
April's toothbrush in his bathroom. Her coffee mug on his counter.
Kevin's bike by the door, Pete's and Benny's toys scattered across the living room floor.
The kind of chaos he'd never imagined wanting—and now couldn't imagine living without.
They'd fallen into a rhythm. April working at Riversong, Shane on whatever job Watchdog assigned, Kevin shuttling between day camps and friends and the hundred small adventures kids got into when school was out and summer just starting.
Dinners together most nights. Movie marathons and hikes on weekends.
The fear that it wouldn't last, that something would shatter this fragile happiness—Shane shoved it down every time it surfaced. April was safe. Kevin was thriving. They were together. He had everything he ever wanted. And it was all better than he could have imagined.
Life was perfect.
Riversong was packed.
String lights crisscrossed overhead, turning the outdoor patio into something out of a fairy tale.
Brianna Taylor—April's cousin and a rising star in the bluegrass world—had her fiddle out and was leading an impromptu jam session with a few local musicians.
The music floated over the sound of the St. Vrain River flowing twenty feet below, mixing with laughter and conversation.
The party was officially to celebrate paying off the predatory loan, and the Taylors finally being free of Daniel Foti's shadow, but really it was about community. About family.
Shane stood near the railing, watching April move through the crowd. She was glowing—there was no other word for it. Relaxed in a way he'd never seen her before. Happy. Free.
"So." Elias appeared at his elbow, followed by the rest of Mountain Division. "You and April."
Shane didn't take his eyes off her. "Yeah."
"Took you long enough," Elias said, dropping into a chair at the outdoor table where they'd congregated.
"Shut up." But Shane was grinning.
They settled around the table—Shane, Gabe, Elias, Waylon, Bear, and Ben. Waylon pulled a flask from his jacket pocket and set it in the center of the table.
"Since Riversong doesn't have a liquor license," he said with a smirk.
Gabe grabbed it first, took a swig, and passed it to Shane. "You happy?"
Shane looked through the window at April, who was laughing with Hannah about something, her whole face lit up. "Yeah. Really happy."
The flask made its way around the table. Waylon took his turn and pointed it at Shane. "Good. Because if you screw this up, we're all required to kick your ass."
"Noted."
"You thinking long-term?" Ben asked, his voice quieter than usual.
Shane met his eyes—his best friend since they were kids, the one who'd seen him at his absolute worst, now seeing him at his best. "I'm thinking forever."
Silence fell over the table. Even the music seemed to fade for a moment.
Gabe leaned forward to hear Shane’s answer. "You gonna propose?"
"When the time's right."
"The time's been right since high school, man," Elias said.
Shane's grin widened. "Yeah. Maybe it has."
"You got a ring yet?" Waylon asked. He winked at Ben.
"Not yet. You know anybody who’s good at jewelry?"
Elias held up his left hand and showed off the wedding ring Ben had made for him. “Nope, not a clue.”
The other guys all held up their hands, showing off their equally exquisite wedding rings while they chorused, “Nope.” “No idea.” “Haven’t a clue.”
“All of you suck,” Ben said as he raised the flask to his lips—which, it so happened, he’d made for Waylon.
Bear clapped Shane on the shoulder, damn near causing it to bruise. "About damn time, brother."
They sat there for a while, passing the flask and talking shit the way they always did. Shane felt it settle into his bones—this rightness. These men were his brothers in every way that mattered. And now he had April and Kevin, too. A family he'd built himself.
The front door opened. Charlie King emerged from inside carrying an empty tray which she began filling with empty glasses and coffee mugs.
She was out of her usual bodyguard uniform—no dark suit, no sunglasses—just jeans and a casual top with her hair down.
Shane had known Charlie for years of course.
Served with her in the Navy, worked with her on a dozen jobs at Watchdog.
She’d always been one of the guys to him—she could tell dirty jokes and drink any one of her crewmates under the table.
She’d also saved their damn lives on more than one mission.
But seeing her like this, relaxed, almost unrecognizable, he understood why Ben kept sneaking glances her way.
Ben stood abruptly. "I'll help her."
Shane watched Ben intercept Charlie at the edge of the patio. Ben reached for the tray at the same moment Charlie adjusted her grip. Their hands touched. Even from across the patio, Shane saw the electricity arc between them.
They froze. Just for a second. Staring at each other.
"I've got it," Charlie said. Her voice was steady but her cheeks were flushed.
"I know. Just trying to help."
Charlie dropped her gaze, then looked at him through her lashes. "Thanks, Ben."
"Any t-t-time." Ben's old stutter—the one that only surfaced now when he was nervous or exhausted—slipped out.
He looked mortified. Instead of taking the tray, he turned quickly and walked back to the table. Charlie stood there for a moment, hurt flickering across her face before she carried the tray inside.
Ben sat down heavily and reached for the flask.
"You ever gonna ask her out?" Elias asked.
"Nope."
"That's healthy," Waylon said dryly.
"Shut up." Ben took a long drink and passed the flask along.
Shane caught Gabe's eye. They'd all seen it—the way Ben and Charlie circled each other, never quite connecting. It was painful to watch.
But before Shane could say anything, the sound of an expensive engine cut through the music. A sleek black Mercedes pulled into the parking lot, and Shane's entire body went rigid.
He knew that car.
"Oh shit," Waylon muttered.
Yvonne Foti stepped out of the driver's side, and for a moment she just stood there, clutching a bouquet of flowers, staring at the party like she wasn't sure she had the right to be here.
Then her gaze settled on Shane, and she started walking toward him.
“Would you look at the time?” Elias said as he stood.
Waylon shot up next to him. “Gettin’ late.”
"We should—" Gabe started.
"Go inside," Ben finished.
“What?” Bear asked, still sitting with his back to the parking lot. “What’s—” Ben bumped him and jerked his head. Bear turned, took one look at Yvonne, and stood surprisingly quickly for such a huge guy.
“Gotta go check on Ellie and Star,” he mumbled as he followed the others to the entrance. Shane watched his brothers disappear into Riversong, leaving Shane standing alone as his mother approached.
"Yeah, thanks, guys," Shane called after them. At least Waylon had left Shane his flask.
Yvonne stopped a few feet away, holding the flowers like a shield. "I'm sorry to crash the party. I just... I wanted you to know."
Shane kept his voice carefully neutral. "Know what?"
"I'm leaving your father. I filed for divorce."
Shane's chest loosened. "Good."
"I should have done it years ago." Yvonne's voice wavered. "Should have protected you."
"Mom—"
"Let me finish." Tears gathered in her eyes. "I was weak. I was scared. And I let him hurt you. I stood by and watched and did nothing, and I will never forgive myself for that."
She was crying openly now, mascara starting to run. "I don't expect forgiveness. I just wanted you to know I'm trying to be better."
Shane closed the distance between them and pulled her into a hug. She went stiff with surprise, then collapsed against him, crying softly into his shoulder.
"I forgive you," Shane said quietly. "I forgave you a long time ago."
"You shouldn't. I don't deserve—"
"You're my mom. You made mistakes. So did I. We're both trying to be better." He pulled back enough to smile at her. "And despite all my brothers chickening out and going inside when they saw you, we all have your back if you need us."
Yvonne let out a wet, broken laugh. "They ran pretty fast, didn’t they?"
"Yeah, they did."
"Shane?"
He turned to find April standing in the doorway, her expression uncertain. Shane held out his hand, and she came to him immediately, sliding under his arm.
"April." Yvonne's voice broke again. "I'm so sorry. For everything Daniel said, everything he did—"
"You're not responsible for his choices," April said firmly.
"But I stood by—"
"And now you're not. That takes courage to stand up for yourself. To leave a violent man. I know that better than anyone."
Yvonne looked at them both, then for a long moment at the flowers she was still holding, gathering herself. "These are for the party. For Sonny and Miriam. To thank them for... for being kind to Shane when I couldn't be."
April took the flowers with a gentle smile. "They'll love them. Come inside. Have something to eat. Join the celebration."
"I don't want to intrude—"
"You're not intruding," April said, as her gaze slid to Shane. "You're family."
My God. This woman. This strong, kind, amazing woman.
Yvonne's eyes filled with fresh tears. "You two... you're good together."
Shane looked down at April, at the woman who'd held his heart since they were seventeen. "Yeah. We are."
"Be happy. Both of you." Yvonne wiped her face. "God knows you've earned it."
She stayed for another hour, sitting with Sonny and Miriam and apologizing for things that weren't her fault. But they were gracious, the way the Taylors always were, and by the time Yvonne left, she was genuinely smiling.
Shane watched her car disappear into the night, and April leaned against him.
"That was hard for her," April said.
"Yeah."
"But good. It was good."