Write Me Home

by Crystal Walton

  “Nonna.”

  “Nothing. I got caught up in a movie and forgot about the lasagna in the oven. That’s all.” Dodging his gaze, she rubbed Lady’s ears.

  “What about the fall?”

  A huff sent her eyes circling toward the ceiling. “When the smoke started, I lost my balance reaching for the fan’s chain. It’s no reason for everyone to get all worked up.” She blasted a sharp glance at the white haired woman still beside Cass. “If Maureen hadn’t called the entire rescue squad, my house wouldn’t be Grand Central right now.”

  “And you’d still be on the floor.” Her friend stepped forward. “You better be thankful I came by when I did.”

  Nonna waved her off until she met Ethan’s stern look. She released a pent-up breath and faced Maureen. “Thanks for checking on me.” She bunched the sheets under her fingers. “Now, go on home to Winston.”

  Maureen shuffled over to the bed and kissed her cheek. “You old grump. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  Except for some stirring out front, a stillness settled over the place after Maureen left. Nonna stroked Lady’s back and stared at the bedspread, brow furrowed. Her tension-filled movement constricted Cass’s muscles. What now? Had something else happened?

  She lifted pensive eyes toward Ethan. “You look so much like your Nonno. Sometimes, I almost think he’s here again.” She blinked away honest emotion, adjusted the pillow behind her, and winced as she moved her hip.

  The same fatigue that’d lined Ethan’s face on the drive here reemerged and almost pulled Cass to him. But as much as she wanted to comfort him the way he always did for her, she sensed whatever Nonna wanted to say was between them. She glanced at the door. What were the chances she could slip out without them noticing?

  Nonna squeezed Ethan’s hand. “We both know I won’t be around forever. Stubborn or not.”

  “Nonna—”

  “No use fussing over part of life, dear.” She nuzzled Lady closer to her side. “When Nonno died, so did my world. But I had this home to take care of, grandbabies to look after. And even friendship to enjoy.” Her gaze wandered across the comforter toward Cass, a distant smile finding her lips. “Which eventually blossomed into more.”

  The glisten in her eyes sent Cass back to her comment the night they’d met. “Sweet child, you have your grandpa’s smile.” The realization climbed up her throat. “You and Grandpa?”

  Nonna’s expression held enough memories to answer for her.

  Cass’s grandma had died decades ago. Grandpa never remarried, but she always assumed he’d found contentment in his work at the camp. How did she not know he fell in love again?

  Cass shook her head. “He never said anything.”

  “No. I suppose he didn’t.” With her attention back on Lady, Nonna ran her fingers down one of the dog’s long, fluffy ears. “Not that he was happy about that.”

  Ethan hadn’t moved. Back flexed, he stared at her. “I don’t understand.”

  “We kept it a secret.”

  A mix of curiosity and confusion drew Cass to the end of the bed. “Why?”

  “Mom. She found out, didn’t she?” Ethan pushed off the mattress, face taut with perception. “That’s why she cut me off from going to the camp as a kid? Because she didn’t want you to move on?”

  “There’s more to it, Ethan. You didn’t know your mama before Nonno died.” Her focus roamed the patched comforter again as if drifting from one memory to another. “So loyal, she was a daddy’s girl like you’ve never seen. Loved that man something fierce.” Her smile saddened. “Losing him shattered her heart.”

  From what Ethan had told Cass about his mom, it was hard to picture her having a heart at all. Conviction slammed into her as quickly as the thought came. Who was she to talk? She’d spent most of her life hardening her own heart.

  Until she met Ethan.

  The tendon on his neck twitched. What was he thinking right now? She glided toward him, threaded her fingers through his, and kissed the back of his shoulder.

  “In your mama’s eyes, my relationship with Colin dishonored Nonno’s memory.”

  Ethan’s muscles tightened against Cass’s arm. “She had no right to tell you who you could and couldn’t be with.”

  Nonna’s shoulders crept a little higher up the headboard. “Now, listen, I’m not telling you all this so you can have another reason to be angry at her.”

  “As if I need any.”

  “Ethan James.” Her scold merged into a look of urgency. She took his free hand in hers. “I’m telling you because it’s time to stop letting pride ruin our family.” She reached for Cass’s free hand, too, and nodded. “Both our families.”

  Ethan studied her for a quiet moment. The slightest grin climbed his cheek. “This connection with her grandpa . . . You wanted Cass and me together, didn’t you?”

  She let go and slid a nonchalant stroke down Lady’s back. “Destiny needs a little hand every now and then.”

  “Or a shove.” He laughed.

  Footsteps stirred down the hall. Lady’s head perked up, teeth baring.

  “Cass?” Ti rounded the corner with Sanders right behind her. In a cute sundress, jean jacket, and a cowboy hat and boots, she stopped inside the doorway and looked at all three of them. “We wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

  Nonna’s blank stare turned into an eye roll. “First they send the fire squad, now they send in the cavalry.”

  Cass barely refrained from laughing. “Everything’s fine, Ti. Give us a minute.”

  With a quick tip of her head, she and Sanders backed out of the room. Lady settled her chin over her paws but didn’t release her glare from the doorway. Couldn’t blame her. It’d probably been a revolving door all evening.

  Cass squeezed Nonna’s hand. “I’m glad you’re all right.”

  “God has his plans.” She drew them both down into a hug. “Even when we don’t understand them.”

  Ethan kissed her cheek. “Must be part of his sense of humor.”

  “I knew you’d catch on eventually.” Smiling, she patted his hand. “Now, cut that light on your way out, will ya?”

  He nodded.

  “And if that fire truck is still out there, tell them they better get those huge tires off my grass,” she called as they reached the door.

  Shaking his head, he hit the light switch on the way through the doorway. They shuffled into the living room toward Ti and Sanders. “Sorry, guys,” he said.

  Beside the fireplace mantle, Ti flinched and almost dropped a picture frame. She scrambled to put it back in place. “No worries. Everything good?”

  He rubbed his temples. “It’ll take a lot more than a fall to knock the stubbornness out of her.”

  Ti flaunted a knowing grin. “Italians.”

  They all laughed, but the strain left on Ethan’s face bore the imprint of a long day. Actually, more like a long week. How could so much happen in such a short time?

  He clasped Sanders’s hand and leaned in for a hug. “Thanks for coming today, bro. Would you be up for crashing in my room tonight? I’m gonna stay here.” His attention flitted to Cass. “If you don’t mind.”

  Was he serious? “Of course not.” She moved toward him and brushed back the flattened hair that’d fallen over his forehead. “As long as you promise you’ll actually get some sleep.” He’d been so strong. For her. For the camp. Nonna. He needed to rest and recharge.

  Her hand trailed down to his neck, the other to his chest. Holding his gaze made not kissing him almost unbearable.

  “Alrighty, then.” Ti snagged Sanders’s arm and pulled him toward the front door. “We’ll be outside when you two are done here.”

  The screen shut, its echo colliding with Ethan’s laugh. His eyes held hers as though reading every yearning she didn’t say. He curled his arms around her. “Hold that thought for another time.” His grin gave way to an abbreviated version of the real kiss she wanted.

  He pulled back. Exhaustion must’ve m
ade him delirious if he thought she was anywhere near ready to let go. He laughed at her expression, kissed her once more, and wove his fingers through hers. “Believe me. I know.”

  He kept her close on the way out the door. “You mind riding home with Sanders? I’ll be back in the mor . . .”

  A gray sedan in the driveway stole his focus. His fingers tightened over Cass’s as a woman strode around the front bumper in three-inch heels. Seemed a little late for a business call. She didn’t look like a doctor. A lawyer, maybe? She certainly carried herself with stature.

  The woman stopped in front of the porch with a stare fixed on Ethan. “Do I need a password to get by?”

  This time, Cass squeezed Ethan’s hand. She’d been around enough blunt people in the city to roll with it, but something about this lady’s arrogance got to her. If she loosened that clip holding her sleek hair back, maybe her chin would drop a notch or two.

  “What are you doing here, Mom?”

  Mom? Cass shrank behind his shoulder and glanced at Ti, debating whether to take cover with her and Sanders.

  Ethan’s curt tone didn’t seem to throw her. “Same as you. I’m checking on Nonna.”

  “More like double-checking she didn’t burn the house down. We wouldn’t want any bad press for the city council.”

  She started up the steps. “Not now, Ethan. If you want to cast accusations, call Mary and take a number.” Her determined strides jerked to a stop. Under the porch light, her eyes constricted at Cass as if just noticing her. Everything Nonna’d confided in them a few moments ago burned in his mom’s expression.

  Ethan guarded Cass behind him. “This needs to end.”

  His mom huffed. “Took you long enough to figure that out.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I . . . Wait a minute.”

  Cass inched beside him and curled her hand around his arm.

  His chin sagged to his chest. Eyes closed, he kneaded the back of his neck. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this before now.”

  His mom tried to shove past him. “I don’t have time for—”

  “Being exposed?” He pinned a glare on her.

  “What?”

  Tall and confident, he blocked the door. “Does your hate run so deep that you’d resort to attacking the McAdams camp?”

  She pulled her suit jacket down by the hem. “Attacking? Do you realize what you’re saying? That’s ridiculous.”

  “Is it?” He backed her to the stairs. “Deputy Harris. The inspector. You said the word, and they upped the pressure.”

  Cass’s stomach dropped right along with his mom’s heels, clinking onto each step. The property taxes. She would’ve had influence on those, too. It all made so much sense. Was this whole thing some kind of revenge plan to shut down the camp because of Grandpa and Nonna?

  He kept advancing. “It must really burn you to know I’m in love with Colin’s granddaughter. Another DeLuca tied to a McAdams.”

  Surprise flashed across her wide eyes, followed by a deep-seated fury.

  Cass glanced again at Ti and Sanders off in the corner of the porch. She would’ve moved toward them if shock didn’t have a hold over her feet.

  Ethan’s mom bumped into the sedan’s door panel, but he didn’t back down. “You can’t stand the thought of Colin’s legacy continuing, can you?”

  Face reddened, she started to shake. “My father was ten times the man he’ll ever be.” She grabbed his shirt and gritted her teeth. “His legacy’s over, Ethan. You hear me? That camp is over.”

  No one moved. A car drove past and swept its headlights across the yard. His mom released her hold at the same time the porch released Cass’s feet.

  Cass stumbled to the end of the stairs, not wanting to believe it. “You started the fire?”

  A scathing glance soared over her. “And open an investigation?” She brushed off the accusation along with the wrinkles in her jacket. “Please.”

  Ethan adjusted his shirt. “So, which pawn did you use, then? Whose dirty laundry did you have to flaunt?”

  Her jaw flexed. “I had nothing to do with that.”

  “But you knew about it.”

  Without answering, she stared into the shadows as though looking backward in time. She shook her head. “That orphan kid hasn’t stopped begging for a way to prove himself ever since my first campaign.” She scoffed. “The screw-up couldn’t even handle a simple task. All he had to do was lure the McAdams girl away from you. That’s it.”

  Orphan? Her words crashed into fragmented memories from the day at the florist’s when she’d met Nick. “My uncle took me in after my parents died in a car wreck . . . This town isn’t a complete dead end. As long as you know the right people.”

  The right people. Like a prominent city council woman? Cass gripped the banister. Nick hadn’t accidentally bumped into her that day. Every interaction. Every word. All set up. How could she have been so stupid? When he’d said he called from Manhattan, he was here, playing her the whole time. Her stomach knotted with waves of nausea.

  Ethan turned from her to his mom. “Nick.” A tendon on his neck twitched. “He’s the one who got hold of my phone and keys, isn’t he?” He balled his fists. “That little—”

  “Really, Ethan.” His mom rolled her eyes. “This whole thing is over. Let it go.”

  “The heck I am.”

  Her chin shot up. Eyes tightening, she raised a finger. “Now, you listen to me. That vengeful kid’s need for attention left a mess I have to clean up. Don’t make the same mistake.”

  “You’re talking to me about mistakes and vengeance?” He turned her own smirk on her. “How long have you been waiting for Colin to die so you could finally destroy what he built?”

  Her eyes darkened again, and he squared his shoulders. “I hate to be more of a disappointment to you, Mom, but I’m not letting you close the camp.”

  “You’re not going to let me? Let me?” She charged forward, face a dangerous flood of emotions. “Look at you, standing guard in front of Nonna’s house. Where were you when she had her heart attack? Where were you the last five years?”

  She edged him backward. “Always ready to take control. So quick to be the protector. Where were you when Isabella was trapped in that car?” She swung at him. “Where were you, Ethan?”

  He took each shove, not fighting back.

  “I will not stand by another year, watching kids fill this town every summer when my baby girl never will. You hear me?” Composure completely lost, she shrieked through a torrent of tears.

  He caught her by the wrists. Same as he’d done for Cass, he wouldn’t let her push him away. He held her arms down until she gave in and wrapped them around him.

  And in his embrace, a woman as hard as stone crumbled. “I should’ve been there. I shouldn’t have let her go.”

  All this time, she’d been consumed by loss, driven by it. The ache of it all came through every sob. First her father, then her little girl. It’d been easier to bury it under bitterness. Easier to blame Colin and Ethan. Just like it’d been easier for Cass to pin her pain on Jesse and Dad. The hardest person to face was always yourself.

  “It’s no one’s fault.” Ethan held her tight.

  Did he finally believe that? That his sister’s death wasn’t his fault, either? Cass dabbed the skin under her bottom lashes.

  “I’m sorry.” His mom clung to him, tears still flowing.

  Whether she deserved forgiveness wasn’t really the question. Where they went from here would be the hard part.

  Truth was, they couldn’t restore years of damage over night. Some of it may never fully heal. And despite her grief, his mom’s actions held significant consequences. But Cass still sensed they needed time alone right now.

  She motioned Ti and Sanders over. On her way across the lawn, she met Ethan’s gaze. Nodding, he returned her smile, and she slipped into Sanders’s car.

  Was this really the same day they’d gone to the city? That seemed like a world ago al
ready. The night couldn’t possibly have felt any later. But with the darkness in the car blanketed around her, she slumped against the door panel and gave in to her exhaustion.

  The tires rumbled over the gravel driveway and jolted her eyes back open. Around the curve in front of the main building, a green Mazda came into view under the flood light. That was the same kind of car . . . Her stomach knotted all over again.

  Ti pulled her seatbelt off. “Oh my God.”

  Cass padded for the door handle.

  “Cass, no.” Ti twisted in her seat, but Cass climbed out before she could stop her.

  Beside Sandy next to the porch, someone rose to his feet and turned. His smile burned through the shadows and latched on to her lungs. No air. No words. Except one.

  “Jesse.”

  chapter twenty-two

  Pummeled

  Ethan hung up with Ti, dropped his cell in his lap, and thrust Cass’s Passat into drive. He gripped the steering wheel, clenching back the thought of her ex-boyfriend being anywhere near her. If the creep so much as touched her before he got there . . .

  He skidded onto the main road, fishtailed for a second, and kept going. Taillights glowed ahead. He rolled down all four windows as he came up behind a service truck. “Come on. Get out of the way.”

  A car coming from the opposite direction flew by in the lane beside them. After a quick glance out the window, Ethan pushed the gas and whipped around the truck.

  The night’s cold air flooded the inside of the car. With his blood pumping this fast, he had enough trouble staying in his seat. Forget observing the speed limit.

  He gunned up the camp’s driveway and screeched to a stop without bothering to turn into a parking spot. He hustled out toward Ti and Sanders. She held an arm up to stop him, same as she’d done in the bar when Cass was dancing with that lumberjack. “Give her a minute.”

  Was she serious? Forcing his breath to slow, he released his fists. Cass could take care of herself. She’d proven that a dozen times already. Still, if the punk made a single move, Ethan wasn’t going to stand down.

  Cass straightened her already-rigid spine. “You need to leave, Jesse.”