Chapter 27

[Mavis]

Within the week, I have good news. Trudy Wallace, a local real estate agent who originally sold me my house, has found a buyer. The person wishes to remain undisclosed which is their right. He or she will actually be buying the land as there is no longer a house. Trudy thinks the person is purchasing the property for an investment. He or she will build something meeting the city’s requirements for the historic boulevard of homes, possibly something modeled after the original house, then flip it for a profit.

It shouldn’t matter to me what is built. I’m not gaining anything from the sale other than enough money to pay off the mortgage on a home that no longer exists.

Still, the thought makes me slightly sad. I loved the house and living in town, close to the local businesses and shops. I don’t like the idea of the property being an investment, but hopefully one day a beautiful house with a loving family will reside there and enjoy the space as much as I once did.

“Are you sure you’ll be happy living out here?” Clay asks me, sensing my mood about the sale as we sit on the couch, mindlessly waiting for a movie to start on the television. I’m snuggled into his side, his arm over my shoulders. His fingers toy with my hair.

As his smaller home is outside of town proper and on a large piece of land, the setting is opposite of town living but just as wonderful. The space is cozy, warm, and comfortable.

“I love it out here,” I tell him, meaning it. “All the open space and the woods on the edge. It’s a perfect place for Dutton to roam. I feel safe here.”

Despite being in town with neighbors close by, I hadn’t always felt safe in my original home. The devil lived inside my house.

Clay is an angel in comparison.

“I just want you to be happy.” He presses a kiss to my forehead before turning back to the movie.

I want him to be happy as well, and the concern that one day he won’t be, still rears its head occasionally.

+ ++

Another Sylver Sunday arrives, only this one is full of excitement. Clay’s brother Ford was once a famous centerfielder for the Chicago Anchors, which I already know. And his girlfriend is Cadence, a world-renown country music singer who I have yet to personally meet. She’s finally home from a short tour, so she’s attending the gathering. Everyone in the family is thrilled to learn she’ll be making Sterling Falls her permanent residence with Ford and his three energetic girls.

Winnie has been a godsend for Dutton, and I dare say she alone has convinced me to put Dutton in the local elementary school after the holidays. They will be in the same grade and the school has honored my request to have Dutton in the same classroom as Winnie to ease the transition to the formal setting.

I’ll miss our homeschooling sessions, but I’m not cut out to be a teacher. I can tackle the homework and special assignments, but any education from me is more unstructured and carefree than math problems and proper English.

As we enter the house, the noise level is louder than normal. The girls are excited to have Cadence present.

Winnie rushes to Dutton. “Meet my new mom.”

Clay and I exchange glances. Is there something he forgot to tell me? He softly chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulder, tugging me to him and pressing a kiss to my temple. He’s become openly affectionate with me around Dutton and his family.

For the first time in a long time, I’m truly happy. A fact that unsettles me, and I can’t stop the nerves jittering through me.

“And who is this?” Cadence squeals, squatting to eye Dutton. “Winnie told me she had a new best friend.”

Cadence has long, acorn colored hair, a contrast to her blonde stage persona. She’s expressive and friendly, and so much more than I expected a country superstar to be. She’s genuinely excited to meet Dutton.

Dutton shies a bit at Cadence’s exuberance, but he still smiles deeply at her attention.

“I heard you love Princess Power . The pink one, right?”

Dutton is adamantly nodding, confirming the information.

Cadence stands to her full height. “Then I think a Princess Power sleepover party is in order. You, Zelle, Winnie, and June. Soon?”

Cadence glances at me. Unfortunately, she’s dangled the carrot before a rabbit, and Dutton is rolling on the balls of his feet, hands clasped together in a plea.

“I don’t know,” I whisper, reaching out for his longer bangs and tugging them back from his face. “Let me discuss it with Clay.”

At my statement, the room slowly quiets, like I’ve said something the others aren’t certain they’ve heard correctly or maybe shouldn’t have heard at all.

On the verge of asking if I said something wrong, my palms grow sweaty until Clay clasps his hand around mine and lifts that hand to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to the center of my palm. His eyes are bright, a small smirk playing on his mouth when he looks up at me. Then he glances at Dutton, giving him a smile as well.

“Mavis and I have news, too. We are officially living together. Mavis, Dutton, and me.” Clay winks at Dutton who turned his head toward Clay when he heard his name.

Another roar of congratulations goes up. The family is chaos once more as the Sylver brothers step forward to hug Clay and Vale swipes at a tear escaping her eye.

“Welcome to the family,” Cadence says, offering me a hug. “It’s a wild ride among these Sylvers.”

I’ve learned that Cadence is Enya’s sister.

Enya chuckles next, rubbing her hand over her swollen belly. Baby number two is due in February. “You’re going to scare her away.”

Cadence glances back at me, eyes squinting like she’s truly inspecting me. “Something tells me Mavis doesn’t scare easily.” The side of her mouth crooks upward before she fully smiles. “The bigger question is, how are you at baseball?”

A few groans follow the question, but other questions are asked about Clay and me, and Ford and Cadence.

And the happiness level skyrockets. This is family. With a sharp pang of homesickness, I recall the easier times that come with growing up around a motorcycle club. The family barbeques and holiday celebrations that involved boisterous male voices and soothing female ones. I miss my sister and wish she could have had an experience similar to the one I’m experiencing with Dutton.

Glancing at him, so immersed in this family as well, accepted for who he is, and embracing them all right back, I send up a silent prayer of gratitude to Cecilia for trusting me with his care. For allowing me to love him as my own.

“You okay?” Vale asks, nudging my arm while holding out a glass of wine for me.

“Yeah,” I quietly state.

“Gotta love this lot, even if they can be overbearing at times. Love is overwhelming, right?”

“Yeah.” I blink, something suddenly in my eye.

“It’s also the best feeling in the world.” Vale side-eyes me, watching her family. “Don’t ever forget that, Mavis. You’re one of us now.”

I’m not certain if it’s a warning or a reminder but I’m not likely to forget the Sylver family if something ever was to happen to me or them.

+ + +

Later, Clay and I tumble to his bed, a ribbon of limbs entangled and mouths meeting. I giggle, giddy from two glasses of wine when I’m not much of a drinker and the overall buzz of dinner among a family that is shifting and growing.

Slowly, Clay and I undress each other, running our hands over the other’s body, exploring all the places we’ve already explored and yet still learning so much about one another. As I roll him to his back, climbing over him, something in my peripheral vision near the floor to ceiling windows has me turning my head, distracting me only a second from the glory of the man beneath me.

I freeze.

“Clay,” I whisper. “There’s someone out there.”

The shadow was not that of an animal, low to the ground and walking on all fours, but a full-grown male, passing by the window. I didn’t notice him looking through the glass, but he might have been. Who knows if he’d been watching us before he walked along the side of the house.

Beneath me, Clay lifts his head and glances toward the window. Then, he’s sitting upright and I’m scrambling off him. He stumbles from the bed and steps into his jeans, tugging them up his legs, sans underwear, leaving them loosely open at his waist.

I climb off the end of the bed and reach for his flannel shirt on the floor. My hands shake violently as I struggle to pull the warm material on before wrapping my arms around my middle to hold the shirt closed. My spine tingles, a chill racing down it, as goosebumps settle on my skin. My stomach is instantly in knots. Fear like I haven’t known in a long time wells inside me.

Clay yanks open the door to our bedroom, providing us a clear view of the hallway. Standing just outside the glass lining the wall, leaning forward with his hand shielding his eyes, is a man, and he isn’t looking in the direction of Clay or me, but staring at the closed door to Dutton’s room.

Clay is already rushing down the hallway toward the front door. While I fear for him because he shouldn’t go outside, he doesn’t know if the person is armed or dangerous, my greater concern is Dutton.

My son’s name is a squeak, paralyzed in my throat as terror takes over my body. I move limbs that are heavy and weighted with fear. Finally, I cross the few steps to Dutton’s door and open it, relieved to find him tucked in bed. His arms wrapped around Violet the bear. He’s safe and whole in here.

Instantly, I twist toward the floor to ceiling windows, noticing Clay standing barefoot in the gravel driveway. His hair is mussed, his jaw tense. His head darts left to right, searching for the man before he runs both his hands up the back of his head, forcing his hair to stand even further upright. Obvious frustration, and maybe a healthy dose of fear, suddenly presses on his shoulders. Clay looks like he’s yelling but I can’t hear what he’s saying through the heavy panes.

The stranger is gone.

But even without his presence, the memory of worn leather, cigarettes, and cheap cologne tickles my nose.