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Trent Barker squeezed his eyes shut and ran a trembling hand over his temple. His whole body
shuddered. He seemed so frail, so tired, and just& old.
Eventually her father lowered his rifle. Billie, when did you get home?
Relief washed through her and she offered a small smile. She d been home for nearly two weeks
and this was the first time her father had called her by name.
I got home& a while ago.
Her father s brows furled. Is it off season? He glanced at the trees, saw the fall foliage.
Shouldn t you be at college? What s going on? His voice rose as did his agitation.
Billie opened her mouth but Bobbi spoke before she had the chance. Billie s just home for a
quick visit, Dad. No worries.
Their father stared at both the girls and then he glanced at Logan. Who s he? he asked gruffly, his
expression bordering on confused, though his pride kept his chin up. It broke her heart.
Her grandfather cleared his throat, but Billie saw the tears that glistened in his eyes and her own
welled up.
[i]Daddy& [i]
An image of her father bent over, tying her skates rolled through her mind...
She remembered the quiet encouragement in his eyes. The way they crinkled when he smiled. The
scent of coffee. Mint toothpicks. The warm hand on her back before every game.
She exhaled slowly and it was a few seconds until she could speak. This is my& friend, Logan.
She paused. You remember Logan Forest don t you? His family owns the veterinary clinic in town.
Trent s eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips. You re Max s son?
Yes, sir. Logan answered quietly.
Dad, Bobbi moved forward, Gerald at her side. Why don t you go inside with Gramps?
Herschel was beside his son and gently tugged the rifle from Trent s hands. There was no
resistance. There was nothing really. It was as if the fire inside Trent Barker had burned bright for
only a moment and then it was gone.
The lump in Billie s throat was huge as she watched her grandfather slip her dad s hand into his.
The two men turned and shuffled up the porch steps one an older version of the other, both dejected.
They disappeared inside the house as the October sun shone brightly in their wake.
Unbelievable. Bobbi s voice was sharp with insinuation. Condemnation.
Billie tensed, not really up for a battle just now. She d never felt this low. Not even when she d
woken up in hospital after her concussion had it been this awful. She felt like she was in the middle of
a storm with no safe haven& as if she didn t fit anywhere.
Bobbi, I can t do this right now.
Of course you can t, but do I care? Billie, how could you?
Her sister moved until she stood inches from Billie s face. For once Bobbi didn t look put
together. Her hair was clipped haphazardly on top of her head, with day old makeup smeared beneath
her eyes eyes that were bloodshot. Her yellow track suit was top of the line, the label, [i]Lulu
Lemon[i] an import from Canada but she d pulled on slippers instead of running shoes. One of her
earrings was missing, and was that dried toothpaste in the corner of her mouth?
If Billie wasn t feeling so crappy she d have been all over that. As it was, there was no fight in her
and it took everything inside Billie to [i]not[i] break down. She couldn t do that. Not in front of her
sister. Not in front of Gerald Dooley.
And especially not in front of Logan.
He was still behind her. She couldn t see him, but she sure as hell felt him.
Bobbi, maybe this isn t a good time, Gerald said carefully.
Bobbi ignored him and though Billie welcomed his effort, she knew Gerald wasn t man enough for
her sister. If Billie wasn t so down she d appreciate the fire that burned inside Bobbi, but she didn t
want to deal with her sister s anger. Not now.
Maybe not ever.
I left you in charge for one night. Bobbi held up her hand, index finger pointed at Billie. [i]One
night[i] and I come home to this?
Bobbi, I
Don t Bobbi, me. Her sister was livid. You had one thing to do. [i]One thing![i] Make sure
Dad was all right. She whirled around and nodded toward Logan. Instead you don t even come
home? You stay out all night with him? Are you kidding me?
Her sister s tone touched something inside Billie and a spark of indignation erupted. Indignation,
hurt, and a whole lot of other stuff she d been bottling up for days. Bobbi had no idea what had
transpired over the last twelve hours. Or over the last few months. None at all.
In fact, neither one of her sisters had even asked about the concussion and subsequent end to her
career. When had their family become so fractured?
Are you really gonna go there with me? Billie fisted her hands.
Girls Gerald began.
Shut-up! They both shouted.
Billie took a step toward Bobbi and something in her eyes must have warned her sister that Billie
was a little unstable because she moved back. All the crap Billie had dealt with over the last week
the snide comments and innuendoes. The lack of focus. The anxiety over not knowing where her life
was going. The fear she had for her father and how ill prepared she felt about his deteriorating
condition.
The kiss she d just shared with the one man she d wanted to avoid.
All of it rushed through Billie and she trembled from its enormity. The storm that swirled around
her was suddenly raging and there was no way she could keep it at bay. It was too big.
Don t you dare get all high and mighty with me, [i]Bobbi-Jo[i]. She thrust her chin out as
Bobbi s eyes flashed. Her sister hated her full name and Billie knew it.
Why not? Bobbi rasped. Someone has to. She glanced toward the house and then swung back,
her eyes hard. You ve been home for what, two weeks? And what have you done but stir up trouble
with your stupid idea to play hockey with a bunch of men. You ve done nothing about your future.
You ve contributed nothing to this household. Nothing.
Billie s face warmed when she heard Logan shuffle his feet.
You can t even be trusted to look after Dad!
That s bull but she couldn t get a word in. As much as she was living inside a storm, Billie
saw the same thing reflected in her sister s eyes.
You were practically having sex in the freaking driveway and Dad was on a rampage with a
fucking rifle in his hands.
It s not my fault Dad
Nothing s ever your fault is it? Bobbi sneered.
A strangled sound fell from Billie s lips and she clenched her hands, wanting to plow her sister in
her perfect and righteous nose. She took a step closer.
And I suppose your tongue just happened to fall into Logan Forest s mouth? Bobbi continued
viciously. All night long?
Billie saw red. Vivid, Technicolor red. Her voice lowered as she leaned forward. From the
corner of her eye she saw Gerald step back. Smart man.
Why do you care whose throat I shove my tongue down?
Real classy, Bobbi retorted.
Why are you home anyway?
Bobbi pointed toward the house. I didn t trust you with Dad and seems I was right.
You re so full of shit, Bobbi. You came home because your night with Dooley was a big fat dud.
He spent all that money on a bed-and-breakfast and I bet he didn t even get into your pants.
She could tell by the expression in her sister s eyes that she d hit the nail on the head.
I think it was a dud because you can t stop obsessing over Shane Gallagher.
Don t you dare go there, Bobbi s voice was hoarse. You don t know anything about Shane and
I.
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