Talmage was Benjamin. My thoughts filtered to Amber, who had effectively disappeared from my life since I left Talmage's house, then away again.
“I plan to stay here through the summer,” I said to dismiss those thoughts. “I'll probably leave before the snow, so I'd like to smooth things over with Talmage. We're bound to run into each other here, and I'd like to be able to support him. Within reasonable, safe means.”
Her hand tightened over my knee momentarily. “You're a good sister, but don't push your boundaries. Talmage has to earn your support.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder and melted into her warmth. Sunlight glinted off sparkling drops of water while Ava's giggle floated across the water, and the only thing that could have made the moment better was Benjamin.
Maybe Dagny was right.
Maybe I couldn't keep Benjamin at a distance.
12
Benjamin
Ava didn't stop talking about Serafina's family the whole way up the canyon, from Pineville to Jackson City, the next day.
I didn't often leave the small mountain town to do more intensive shopping in Jackson City, but Serafina's invasion of my cupboards made my lack of food plainly embarrassing. Serafina had left me a detailed list—plastic leftover containers and kid-friendly kitchen cups and hot pads for the oven—included. Her requests had me lost in the Bed and Bath store for far too long. These were simple things, so why were there so many options?
“Then,” Ava cried in a voice so animated I didn't have the heart to ask her to leave me in silence for just one minute, “when we were in the river, Gary threw me in. I wasn't even scared and I swam back to him and I'm a good swimmer, Dad. Janeen said so.”
My stomach clenched thinking about her in the cold river water, but I let it pass. Apparently, I needed to get this girl out more. Her joy was evident. I'd wrongfully assumed she'd hate the cold water.
Star Dad, over here.
Gary, I assumed, was Serafina's father. My curiosity was piqued. For having just met Ava, she'd had quite a fun time with him.
Once we finally finished the shopping, I avoided a group of people that looked at me with a familiar, questioning gaze. I could practically feel their question from here. Is that Benjamin Mercedy?
Ava skipped through the parking lot as we stepped into her favorite restaurant, an old-time place with wagon wheel chandeliers and flickering, fake candlelight. The waitresses wore 1850's style dresses with boots and sometimes a bonnet. They served kids drinks out of mason jars and a banjo played in the background. Before I could even get inside the restaurant, she'd dashed in ahead of me.
Seconds later, a happy scream followed.
“Sera! Gary!”
My daughter became a blur of hair as she darted across the restaurant and threw herself into the startled—but waiting—arms of Serafina. Sera grimaced as Ava plowed right into her injured rib, but she didn’t push her away. She sat on the outside of a booth next to a woman I presumed to be her mother. A middle-aged man with graying hair and a lean build sat across from Sera. Gary, likely. And there, right next to Gary and luckily by the window so I didn't punch him out, was the bastard brother Talmage. Every muscle in my body clenched.
Sera recovered from her pain, gently pulled Ava into her arms with a bright smile, and a quick, “Hello! How are you today? I've missed you.”
Ava chattered like a squirrel to both Serafina and her mother while I approached. A wary smile lived on Sera's face as I arrived. When her eyes darted to her brother for half of a second and then back to me, I knew why. I intentionally ignored him, but felt an edge of pleasure when he squirmed.
“Hey,” Serafina said, and her bright smile was forced. She wore her hair down today in wild curls that, somehow, seemed more tamed than usual. Everything about her was easy and casual, from her jean shorts to her flip-flops and the sunglasses holding her hair back. Behind it, however, was a hint of something that seemed almost ready to break.
“I didn't know you were coming up to Jackson City,” she said, adjusting Ava on her lap when Ava laughed at a figurine that Jeanette made out of a napkin. “We were just grabbing stuff for the loft.”
I gave her a quick, warm smile. “There was a very specific list waiting for me.”
True pleasure stole over her hesitation, and her grin widened.