what you’re going through. When Truman and I first met, he told me that he’d killed the man who was attacking their mother. I didn’t find out the truth until much later. I don’t know how Quincy survived with all the guilt he’d been carrying, much less how he found the courage to confess to me and the police. He didn’t even know me. But he told me everything, and Truman was furious at him for confessing.”
“Because he wanted to protect Quincy?”
“Always. The same way Quincy, who was no longer a scared, confused kid, wanted to protect Truman, and me and the kids.”
Tears threatened, but Roni fought against them. “Is it wrong that I hate their mother?”
“No. In fact, you’re in good company with those feelings.” Gemma softened her tone and said, “I’m not here to try to convince you to give Quincy a chance. This is your life, Roni, and it’s a huge decision to be with someone who has a history like Quincy’s. But I thought you might need to hear from someone who was there for some of it. I didn’t know what to make of Truman when I met him, much less Quincy. I came from an affluent family who snubbed anyone who was below their economic status. But I have never been loved as wholly as I am by Truman, and I’ve never been loved by family as deeply as I am by Quincy. I was there when he hit rock bottom. We found him unconscious on the lawn, and to be honest, it terrified me. I wasn’t sure I could be involved with someone whose brother was an addict. It’s a world I didn’t understand. But I thank God every day that my love for Tru and the kids was stronger than my fear of what having Quincy in our lives could have meant if he hadn’t gotten clean. Then Quincy went to rehab, and that was hard. There was a lot of pent-up anger and guilt between them, but Quincy never faltered. He was determined to get clean. He surprised us all when he confessed and again when he put himself back into rehab to finish his ninety-day program because it proved that his strength and conviction to leave that life behind was that much more powerful than the allure of drugs. He’s a good man who did terrible things to himself, and those things hurt others, but he’s in a better place now.”
Roni felt like she was going to cry. “He said he can’t promise he won’t use drugs again.”
“That’s true. No one in recovery can make that promise. I know it’s painful to hear, but I can tell you that in the time I’ve known Quincy, he’s never once taken a step backward. He doesn’t drink, he’s honest to a fault, and for what it’s worth, he’s never brought a woman around us until you.”
Roni had been thinking about his honesty, too, and knowing he’d never brought another woman around his friends confirmed what she already knew. Their connection was more powerful than anything she’d ever known. It was stronger than both of them. “Thank you for telling me all of this, Gemma. I miss him already, and it’s only been a day and a half.” It felt good to say that out loud. She missed his constant texts, his voice, and seeing his soulful eyes. She missed his friendship, his kisses, and the smile that stirred butterflies in her belly, but just as all that longing took hold, the crows swept down to feed again.
Chapter Nine
QUINCY SHOVED HIS laptop across the desk and pushed to his feet after typing and deleting the same line four times while trying to write a paper for his business ethics class. He could no sooner concentrate on schoolwork than he could on anything else besides driving his ass over to the dance studio and talking to Roni. She hadn’t responded to his texts on Sunday. He was anxious, and at the same time he felt completely wrung out and empty. He’d talked to Tru, to Penny, and to Jed, but nothing could soothe the ache of longing eating away at him. He’d barely slept the last two nights, and it didn’t help that Simone had needed extra support yesterday.
He checked the time, threw on his leather jacket, grabbed his keys, and headed downstairs. Truman, Jed, and Bear all turned as he walked into the shop. There was no escaping the concern in their eyes.