Nadine didn’t let go. “I haven’t seen her in thirteen years, Harlan. I’ll smother her all I want.”
I laughed. Her motherly hug was nice. “Smother away, Mrs. Tucker.”
She pulled back, but held my arms. “Call me Nadine. It’s so good to see you. I almost didn’t believe it when Harlan told me the news. I’ve been dying to get a proper look at you. What a lovely woman you’ve become.”
“Thank you.” A part of me wanted to shy away from her scrutiny. The scar on my face was a frustrating reminder of what I’d been through, and I knew it was often the first thing people noticed. But her eyes didn’t linger there. She seemed to take all of me in, looking at me like an aunt who hadn’t seen her niece in a long time.
“Mom, are you going to let them come inside, or should we move the table to the front door?” Cassidy asked. She stood in the living room with Bowie, his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“Oh, don’t get your knickers in a twist.” Nadine let go of my arms. “I’m just so darn excited to see you.”
Gibson stood to the side, his arms crossed, his eyes never leaving me.
Bowie patted him on the shoulder. “Calm down, Gibs. It’s just us here.”
He grunted, dropping his arms to his sides, but he didn’t move. Or take his eyes off me.
“Dinner is just about ready,” Nadine said, ushering us in. “Let’s have a good meal before things get too serious.”
I felt Gibson’s hand on the small of my back while we walked into the dining room. Why was he doing that? Not that I minded. The gentle pressure of his big hand was calming. But also a little bit confusing. Maybe touching me when other people were around had simply become a habit already.
We sat together at their cozy table while Bowie and Cassidy helped Nadine bring in dinner. The scent of roasted chicken and gravy filled the air, making my mouth water.
The meal was amazing. Home cooking at its finest. Nadine kept the conversation light and lively, asking easy-to-answer questions of me and the others at the table. Gibson didn’t say much, but he was very polite to the Tuckers. I had a feeling it meant he liked them. He certainly respected them.
We finished eating and Bowie helped Nadine clear the table.
“I suppose we should get down to business.” Harlan folded his hands together, resting his elbows on the table. “Callie, we’re going to need you to take a DNA test.”
“It’s not that we don’t believe you,” Cassidy said. “I know you’re who you say you are. But we’re going to need proof.”
“Of course. I expected that.”
“Good,” Harlan said. “Cassidy filled me in on your story, but let me see if I have this right. You left home because you were being abused.”
I nodded, feeling Gibson stiffen beside me. “That’s correct.”
“And Jonah Bodine Sr. found you, and helped you get out of town.”
I looked down at the table, my throat suddenly thick, my heart racing. It was so hard to talk about this. I felt raw and exposed, like the old wounds on my arms would break open and start bleeding again.
“It’s okay, dear,” Nadine said, returning to her seat. “Take your time.”
Bowie quietly took his chair next to Cassidy.
“Yes, he helped me. I was injured, and he took care of me as best he could. The next day, he and Mrs. Bodine helped me reach out to a friend I knew I could trust and arranged for a place to go. Mr. Bodine drove me there.”
“Did you ask him to keep your whereabouts a secret?” Harlan asked.
“We came up with the plan together. He didn’t want to put his family in danger, but he also wasn’t willing to send me back. We decided I needed to disappear.”
“I see,” Harlan said, nodding thoughtfully.
“I have a question about your new identity,” Cassidy said. “How’d you manage to get ID? You said you traveled a lot, but you’d need a passport for that.”
“Someone in Blue Moon arranged it for me. He said he knew a guy who knew a guy, or something like that. I realize that’s not exactly legal.” I winced.
“I was just curious,” Cassidy said.
“I reckon your passport and whatnot aren’t really our concern,” Harlan said. “We have bigger issues to deal with, here.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “I want you to know, I’m ready to come forward.”