“Thanks for everything,” I said, after Cora released me from a hug.
“Anytime. Sorry I’m such a blabber-mouth, but this guy can be kinda tight-lipped when it comes to anything that makes him look like an even bigger saint than he already is,” she said, encouraging her husband away from the good five minute embrace with his older clone.
Joseph’s eyes looked shinier than normal when he was pried from William, and while Cora embraced William, Joseph did the same with me.
“You’re like a sister to me now,” he whispered. Despite every physical appearance, his voice was not identical to William’s. It was not golden and rich like honey—it was tighter and a couple notes higher. “Take care of him, okay?”
I could only nod my head, too moved by his words to trust my vocal chords. He released me and wrapped his arm around Cora, who’d just pulled away from William after whispering something to him.
“Don’t worry about it, you’re forgiven,” William said to her, pulling me under his arm and moving to his older brother and wife; trusting I needed his physical support where they were involved.
“It was good to see you, Nathanial.” William withdrew his arm from me to grip his brother in an embrace—they looked like two bears wrestling from their overbearing size.
“You, too. We’ll miss you,” Nathanial replied, patting his brother’s back.
“You’ll see me again soon enough. I’ve finally found my reason for settling down.” William pulled back, and he and his brother exchanged a knowing look.
William moved to Abigail next, leaving me and Nathanial to look awkwardly at one another. A simple good-bye didn’t seem appropriate given everything, but neither did an embrace. He offered a suggestion; he extended his hand.
“I enjoyed being here. Thank you,” I said softly, reaching my hand for his. They connected and he froze—his eyes grew wild as he glared at me as if I was the most dangerous creature to ever walk the earth. His hand snapped back.
My feelings were more than hurt, but I tried to put all this aside as I moved to Abigail, extending my hand to her to say good-bye.
Nathanial charged to her side and pulled her behind him, his face still screaming shock.
“Nathanial?” William questioned, sounding perturbed. He wrapped his arm around me, steadying me.
“Have a safe trip,” Nathanial growled, before whisking past us with Abigail in tow, back into the cottage.
I turned to William, close to tears. He was glaring at the closed door where his brother and sister-in-law had departed. Why did they hate me? I knew I was far from worthy for their brother, but couldn’t they see that I’d give anything for him, including my life?
“He can be such a jerk sometimes,” Cora scolded, sounding the meanest I’d heard her yet. “It’s a good thing you and I got the good brothers.” Her voice lightened and she walked over to wrap an arm around me from the other side.
“Where’s Patrick?” I asked, looking around for him in an attempt to distract myself.
“He’s off moping somewhere. He’s the odd man out now,” Cora said, as William opened the Bronco door for me.
“He’ll meet up with us tonight before we get back to the Manor,” William explained, still seeming furious over Nathanial’s behavior.
“Don’t worry about your car, Bryn,” Joseph assured. “Patrick’s is here too, so they can keep each other company.”
I smiled as my eyes targeted the open garage in front of us where my Camaro laid in wait beside Patrick’s restored’68 Mustang. It was a beauty—red with white racing stripes and a turbo-boost—and he’d already made an impression on the black beauty beside him. She looked like she was swooning beside the muscle and flash to her right.
William had called Joseph a couple days ago and asked him to pick up my car where it had remained in Newport, and they said it could stay here until we found a more permanent spot for her.
“Keep your eyes on them, okay?” I replied, stepping into the Bronco. “He’s got too much of Patrick in him.” I eyed the Mustang with parental warning.
“Will do,” Joseph said with mock authority. “We’ll be sure to protect your Camaro’s virtue if you promise you’ll protect my brother’s.” Joseph’s smile curled devilishly at the corners.
Cora snickered and elbowed her husband, as William rolled his eyes and shut the door behind me, and we set out to save Paul Lowe’s life.