Page 31 of Never Fall Again
“So?”
“There’s some history I haven’t fully explained to you.”
“Involving the Quinns?”
“Involving one Quinn in particular.” Bronwyn cut her eyes toward the back seat, where Eliza sat with her face pressed to the window. “I’ll explain later. For now, let’s focus on finding the Shaw brothers, saying what we have to say, and getting out of here.”
Landry let it go. There would be plenty of time to pry the details out of Bronwyn when Eliza couldn’t overhear.
Bronwyn eased the car around a curve, and Landry took in the scene. “Are all these people Quinns?” At least fifteen cars were parked alongside a fence that bordered the driveway and stopped a hundred yards from a large house. A wide porch wrapped around the three sides Landry could see. Rocking chairs, porch swings, and gliders filled the space, and most of the seating was taken. A flag football game was in progress on one side of the house, whilethe other side had what appeared to be a hotly contested cornhole game, based on the cheers and groans she could hear through the closed windows.
“Most of them are Quinns,” Bronwyn said as she slid her car in between a bright red Jeep and a silver Camry. “Or Quinn-adjacent. Dating a Quinn, friends with a Quinn, or maybe they met a Quinn this morning. You can never tell.”
Abby ran toward them and met Eliza beside the car. “Liza! Come play!”
Eliza paused long enough for Landry to give her a nod and a “Behave yourself” before she took off and was lost among the kids running all over the place.
“A month ago, I wouldn’t have considered letting her out of my sight,” Landry said to Bronwyn as they walked toward the house.
Bronwyn grinned. “I grew up running around this place. I’m glad she and Abby have hit it off. She’s going to love it here.”
“Bronwyn Pierce.” A low, gravelly voice carried on the wind. “’Bout time you came to see me. Who’d you bring with you?” The elderly man who approached them had a shock of white hair brushed back in a way that highlighted his widow’s peak. He had on khaki pants and a long-sleeved plaid shirt.
“Papa Quinn. How are you?” Bronwyn gave the man a hug, then turned to Landry. “This is Landry Hutton. Abby and her daughter, Eliza, are best buds.”
Recognition lit his wrinkled face as he extended a hand to Landry. “Abby’s told me all about your Eliza. And Cal and Meredith have told me all about you.” He gave her a wink, and Landry couldn’t look away. His eyes were the same blue as Cal’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m John Quinn, but everyone calls me Papa or Papa Quinn.” He pointed to a white-haired woman in a rocking chair at the other end of the porch. “That there’s my bride, Catherine.”
Catherine Quinn looked up from the crocheting she had inher lap, and her smile was so warm, Landry couldn’t stop herself from relaxing as she followed Bronwyn to stand in front of her. Bronwyn leaned down and gave her a hug. “Granny Quinn, this is my friend Landry Hutton.”
“I know who she is.” Catherine Quinn stretched her hand toward Landry, and Landry took it. Her hand was small and thin with dark spots dotting her skin, but her grip was strong. “Good to know you, Landry. You’re welcome anytime. Make yourself at home, dear.”
There was something about Granny Quinn. A sense of peace? Contentment? Wholeness? Landry didn’t know if those were the right words. But there was something deeply comforting about Granny Quinn. She’d never felt as sure of a welcome as she did in this moment. But she didn’t trust herself not to start rambling, so she kept her response simple. “Thank you.”
Ten minutes and too many aunts and uncles to remember later, Bronwyn and Landry made it to the back of the house.
The Shaw brothers were working on what Landry had learned since she moved to North Carolina was a well house. Or what remained of a well house. The three men hadn’t noticed them yet, and they were laughing as they worked.
There were two stacks of lumber—one that looked old, the other new. She was no expert, but her recent home improvement show watching told her that they’d salvaged what they could, but this well house was getting an extreme makeover.
The one she assumed was Connor, the oldest, spotted them and said something to Chad and Cal. Landry hadn’t met Connor yet, but there was no mistaking the relationship. He looked like a blond version of Cal. Chad, the middle son and father to Abby, was the shortest. Cal, the baby of the family, was the tallest.
All three men had stopped working and watched as she and Bronwyn approached. All three of them had the Quinn blue eyes. And all three were in blue jeans, T-shirts, and...tool belts.
Bronwyn nudged her arm. “That right there is a sight that has left many a Gossamer Falls woman appreciating the creativity of the Almighty.”
Landry was spared from having to respond when Eliza ran into her legs. “Mama. Abby said if it’s okay with you, I can stay and play all afternoon. Can I? Please?”
“Oh, um, I...”
Bronwyn started a conversation with Chad and Connor as Cal squatted down beside Eliza and pointed toward the porch. “Maisy is resting over there. You’d better go say hi to her before she thinks you’ve forgotten her.”
“Be right back!” Eliza took off running.
Cal stood and brushed his hands together. When Eliza was out of earshot, he murmured low enough that Landry was the only one who could hear him, “No one will be offended if you don’t want her to stay, but she’s more than welcome to and will be watched carefully. With that said, our parents had a rule that if we ever put them on the spot, the answer was no.”
Landry watched as Eliza knelt beside Maisy. “We’ll be having that conversation tonight. But to be honest, it isn’t a rule we’ve needed before, so I’m not inclined to enforce it today. But thank you for giving me the chance to escape the situation.”
“Anytime.” He turned to his brothers. “Chad, you’ve met Landry. Connor, this is Landry Hutton.”