Page 40 of Never Fall Again
Landry forced herself to focus on the facts. This family didn’t seem to have any issues with race. Papa and Granny Quinn were as white as could be, but their offspring had married and adopted across a wide range of ethnicities and races. Over the course of the afternoon, she’d lost track of all the names and relationships, but there was a lot of brown skin in this family. Eliza blended in fine. So it couldn’t be that.
Could it? Even in racially diverse families, there could be members who didn’t approve. Surely Cal wasn’t like that?
Why did it even matter? It didn’t. She wasn’t interested in dating—
“Hey!” Cal came down the hall toward her, a big smile on his face. “I saw the car and wondered where you were. I thought Aunt Minnie might have kidnapped you and taken you to her lair. I had to rescue Eliza and Abby a little while ago. They’re both sporting purple nail polish now. Aunt Minnie is on a manicure kick.”
Landry couldn’t make herself speak. All she could hear was Cal’s aunt saying “if it wasn’t for the little girl.”
“Landry?” Cal stepped closer. “Are you okay?”
“I need to talk to you.” The words came out hoarse.
“Okay.”
“Not here.”
“Okay.” This time Cal drew out the word. “They’re getting ready to light the bonfire. Most everyone will be on that side of the house. And I’ve let Mom know about Eliza’s asthma. She’ll keep an eye on her and make sure she stays away from the smoke.”
That was all nice and wonderful, but it didn’t help her talk to Cal. “Good.”
“Do you want to go for a walk? There’s a path along the river a little way through the woods.”
“That’s fine.” What was she doing? She didn’t want to talk to him about this. But she had to. The questions would eat her up inside if she didn’t.
“Give me a second to let Eliza know where I’ll be.” Cal waited for her to nod, then took off. He was back a minute later. “She said to tell you she’s not ready to leave and to take a very long walk.”
She should respond to that, but all she managed was a nod.
“You’re kinda scaring me.” Cal ushered her out a different door that led to the side of the house.
“I...” She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
“That wasn’t an encouraging response. We’ll be alone in a minute, and then I’m going to need you to share.”
“Okay.” She couldn’t very well explain that she was afraid that once she started talking, she’d never stop. Why did it matter if the Quinns thought Eliza was a problem? That wasn’t it. It mattered that Cal thought Eliza was a problem. If Eliza was objectionable to him, she needed to know now. Before she paid this man thousands of dollars to build her a house across the river from him.
She froze. She couldn’t do this. She’d ask Bronwyn. Bronwyn would know, or she could find out. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have ... um ... I need to go.”
“Oh no you don’t.” Cal didn’t touch her. Didn’t do anything to physically restrain her. But something in his voice kept her from running away. “You’ve taken ten years off my life. You can’t bail now.”
Why was she still walking? Why was she following him into the trees?
They reached a small path that followed the edge of a river. Probably the same river that separated her property from Cal’s.
Cal didn’t stop walking, but he didn’t let it go either. “Let’s hear it. What’s got you worked up?”
Landry dug in her pocket for her ChapStick. Applied it. Kept walking. “I, um, I overheard something, and I must have misunderstood, or maybe I’m missing some information.”
“What did you overhear?” Cal’s voice was a low rumble of barely controlled fury. “Was someone unkind to you? To Eliza? I’ll take care of it. Please tell me what’s upset you.”
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “Do you have a problem with Eliza?” There. It was out. She’d asked.
And in one horrible moment, everything changed. Because Cal’s face said it all.
Hedidhave a problem with her daughter.
Twelve