Page 13 of Sworn to Defend
Her cell phone vibrated yet again in her fanny pack. Her mother had called her five times since their initial conversation today. She unzipped her pack and stared at the screen.
He ruffled Collin’s hair and moved toward her. “Your mom again?” The way he stalked across the pavement, eyes hard, was another reminder of his protective nature. Why would you ever dream you’d need protection from your own blood? She wasn’t sure what it was about those words that unsettled her.
The phone continued to vibrate in her hand as a knot grew in her stomach. “My sister now.”
“The bride?” One dark brow was raised.
“No. Regina. She’s the oldest.” She moved her ear to her shoulder, trying to work out the kink her in neck. “The most like my mother.” Her whole body was reacting to the stress of the impending event.
“Why don’t you get it in case there’s an emergency, and I’ll get Collin settled. Would that be all right with you, bud?” Hunter turned those massive shoulders to look behind him.
“First a shower, then brush teeth, book, and bed,” Collin responded as he paced the length of the driveway.
“You have other things you need to be doing. Like healing.” Only recently did she begin to have an extra hand with Collin. There were times when he would play at Jacob’s or go to Fred’s, Sam’s elderly neighbor. It still wasn’t easy to accept help, though. “We’re fine.”
“This is the only thing I want to be doing.” The soft light of a summer’s evening was casting a warm glow over his features. The newly healed scars on his face only added to his rough good looks. A reminder of what he’d been through and sacrificed. “Lean on me, Han. I’m not going to buckle under the pressure of your family.”
“It hasn’t even started yet.” She shook her head. “You have no clue what you’re getting into.”
“Again, I can shoulder it. For all three of us.” The determination in his eyes and the hard set of his jaw told her he could more than just shoulder it. But the thing was, she didn’t want him to have to. She’d long since grieved for the close, nurturing family she wished she had. One that would delight in meeting the man she was interested in. Maybe invite him over to Sunday dinner and make him feel at home.
Her phone vibrated again. Another call. Hunter’s eyes were trained on her, waiting for her answer. Those broad shoulders and thick, muscled arms could hold just about anything. She released a pent-up breath. “He’s independent with showering and brushing his teeth.”
“Brave.” Approval shone in his eyes. She really, really didn’t want to be affected by it, but she couldn’t stop the swell of pride at his praise.
She took the keys out of her fanny pack and unlocked the front door. They all stepped inside and removed their shoes. She turned to Collin. When had she started having to look up at her son or stand on her tippy toes to kiss him on the forehead? “Night, sweetie. Great game. You should be proud of yourself.” She leaned in and gave Collin a hug. “I love you,” she said. He was growing so big, so fast. It seemed like yesterday he was toddling around the house. Now, he was taller than her. “I’ll be on the porch. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Love you, Mom.” He took off toward his room, talking a mile a minute to Hunter.
Her phone lit with another missed call. Not able to hold off on the inevitable any longer, she toed off her shoes and walked to the glass slider. Crickets chirped as she stepped out on the deck she’d built with the help of a YouTube tutorial one spring. It had held up over the years. She dialed back Regina’s number, silently willing the call to go to voice mail.
“I’m surprised you called back the way you’ve been avoiding your family all day.”
Ugh. No such luck.
“I already spoke with Mom this morning. I’m assuming she has you calling to relay the same message.”
“You listen closely, Hannah. For once in your dull, selfish existence, just act like a member of the Day family. Mother’s beside herself at your obstinance. Vivienne is talking a bunch of nonsense since your telephone call with her. Father is—”
“What kind of nonsense?” Hannah had only been half paying attention to Regina until she mentioned Vivienne. Maybe she’d actually gotten through to her the other night.
“The kind of nonsense only you would pollute her with. About pushing back her marriage to Scott. Making her own path. Living on her own outside of the estate.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief. Vivienne was finally fighting back. Her voice the other night had reminded her of a caged bird. So trapped. “So the wedding’s postponed?”
“Absolutely not. Imagine how that would look for our family, never mind Scott’s? I can see the headlines now, Day daughter gets cold feet, cancels multimillion-dollar affair to congressional candidate’s CEO son.”
“You’re assuming that people actually care what our family is doing.” Her muscles began to tighten again. “Vivi can’t be forced into a life she doesn’t want.”
“Scott will afford Vivienne the lifestyle she’s accustomed to. Father’s business will be strengthened by Scott’s. Not to mention my Jonathan’s reelection for mayor is approaching. It’s a very practical union.”
She ground her teeth and forced herself to take a breath. “Practical for everyone, except maybe the bride. Your sister, Regina.” Her hands were trembling with anger.
The click of heels was audible over the line. Regina must be pacing, looking out the panoramic windows of her own palatial estate. “If you want to blame anyone for Vivienne’s narrow world, look in the mirror. Every single one of us has been picking up the pieces—scandal, rumors—since you left. I don’t blame Mother and Father for keeping her sheltered.”
“Why are you really calling?” She leaned on the railing of the deck, and lowered her head.
“To prepare you for the consequences if you do anything to ruin this wedding.”