My eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she continued on without explaining.
“But this? It’s magnified that fear so greatly that I’m afraid something will set him off.”
“So, what can you do? For you and the kids . . . for Beau?”
She blinked quickly as her attention returned to me. “I’m not worried about the kids or me. He is, but we’re not the ones who would be on the wrong end of it.” Pushing herself away from the counter, she inhaled deeply and said, “But all I can do is be there for him. Love him. Keep trying to convince him that he’s wrong about being like his dad until he believes it.”
I nodded slowly, trying to wrap my mind around that life once again. “I can’t imagine that, Savannah. I’m so sorry. That has to be so hard for both of you.”
She gave a little shrug and then sucked in a swift breath. “Oh my God! You came here to talk about something, and I just went on about my own problems. I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be,” I said quickly. “I wanna know what’s going on in your life.”
“Yeah, well, same,” she said as she wiped at her cheeks. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
Rafael threatened to take Avalee from me.
He and his girlfriend are getting married and trying for a baby.
Hunter and I reconnected in a way I thought I’d never get to again . . . but I’m pretty sure I just met someone who is much more than his bookkeeper.
“Avalee and I have to go back to Seattle.”
Before I had the chance to continue, her expression fell. The blood draining from her face.
“We’ll be back,” I hurried to add. “I don’t know when, but we will. Raf is just trying really hard to scare me, and Avalee needs to see him. So, we need to go there to figure things out, but we’re coming back as soon as we can.”
“For good?”
I nodded subtly, a huff forcing from my lungs when she barreled into me. “But, I don’t know how long I’ll have to fight with Raf before then.”
When Savannah pulled back, she was crying again. “I’m just so excited that you’ll be here. Whenever you can get here and whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “I know Avalee is gonna miss your kids while we’re gone. As soon as I told her, she was so excited to leave to see Raf. But then she stopped and said, ‘What about Wyatt and Quinn? I don’t wanna leave my friends.’”
Savannah pressed a hand to her chest. “That girl is precious.”
A smile tugged at my mouth. “Anyway, that’s why we’re here. She wanted to give them the drawings, and I wanted to tell you myself this time.”
Savannah’s expression shifted to understanding and gratitude. “Thank you.” We started walking out of the kitchen, but she stopped me with another gasp. “What about Hunter?”
My heart somehow raced and soared and fell to the floor in a mangled mess all at once. “Hmm?”
A coy grin took over her face. “Don’t ‘hmm’ me. Rumor around town is that the two of you picked up where y’all left off. Multiple people have seen y’all pretty close to each other on more than one occasion.”
“Of course they have,” I mumbled as I took a deep, steeling breath. “I dunno. I guess we’ll see when I get back.”
She looked at me in disbelief and mock-annoyance. “That’s all you’re giving me?”
“No, that’s just all I know.” Grief clawed at me as I thought back to that morning, to the moment the hope and certainty I’d been wrapped in was ripped away.
When Savannah responded, her words dripped with sympathy. “Well, y’all will have plenty of time when you get back.”
I tried to smile, but I knew it came across as more of a grimace. I called for Avalee, then turned back to Savannah, my next words rushing out before I could stop them. “Do you know who Isabel is?”
Her head listed to the side as she thought.
“She works for Hunter.” When I only got a blank stare, I said, “Izzy?”
Savannah blinked slowly before recognition lit in her eyes. “Estrada! Yeah—wait, what do you mean do I know who she is? You know who she is.”
“No, I don’t.” Other than the painful introduction that morning, I was sure I’d never seen or heard of her before.
A little snort left her as her arm automatically extended in time for Wyatt to smack into her side, Avalee and Quinn following close behind. “Yeah, her dad worked in the orchard. She used to come with him on the weekends. We all played together.” Her stare drifted to the side as she thought. “I think she’s Sawyer’s age, actually. I remember her playing with him, Leighton, and Emberly more, but we were still around her a lot. I forgot Sawyer said she was the bookkeeper.”
I nodded as those years of growing up with the Dixons swirled in my mind and made Isabel’s comment make so much more sense.
“Is she . . . anything else?”
Savannah’s eyebrows drew together in confusion, but she didn’t respond otherwise.
“To Hunter,” I said soft enough that the kids wouldn’t hear above their enthusiastic chatter—that Avalee wouldn’t hear me talking about her new favorite person.
A startled laugh burst from Savannah. “Definitely not.”
I wanted to tell Savannah she hadn’t been there. That she hadn’t seen the looks on their faces or felt the tension between the three of us. But I just asked, “You’re sure?”
“Absolutely. I didn’t have to be around Hunter all these years to know that.” She gently pushed Wyatt away from us and lowered her voice. “He’s notorious for turning everyone down, and it’s very much known that he’s still in love with you. Why?” she asked suddenly.
I thought through that morning as my head shook. “Just wondered.”
A soft smile tugged at her mouth as she reached for my arm. “I saw the way Hunter looked at you. Don’t let some other girl get in your head when that boy is hopelessly in love with you.”
Doubt wove through me even as I said, “You’re right.”
“Madison.”
I blinked quickly, snapping back to the present when Raf called my name. His tone and the irritated set of his brows letting me know it hadn’t been the first time he’d tried to get my attention.
I glanced from him back to the phone in my hand.
To Savannah’s messages.
Savannah: Hey lady! I haven’t stopped thinking about our convo the other day, and Sawyer’s here fixing one of the bathroom sinks. He knows the current status of the family better than anyone, so I casually asked if Hunt and Isabel had ever been a thing.
Savannah: He looked at me like I was crazy. Laughed. Said, “Hell fucking no” and went back to work. I just wanted to give you some peace of mind because I could see it was definitely weighing on you when you were here.
Savannah: Miss you already!
I cleared my throat and locked the screen. Placing my phone on the counter beside me as my gaze went back to Rafael. “Sorry.”
He inclined his head in the direction of the dining room where his lawyer and Madelyn had gone just minutes before. “Can we talk before we go in there?”