Seth couldn’t help feeling as though the Iveys had let him down again, but he supposed he shouldn’t have expected much more from Lois and Graham. His relationship with them might’ve begun to feel sincere right before Shiloh died, but it had fallen apart immediately after. He’d blamed himself for that; he’d withdrawn from everyone. But maybe things would’ve fallen apart, anyway. He was seeing a side of them he’d never seen before. The only good thing about having Shiloh gone was that she didn’t have to see it, too.

The buzzer sounded. Someone was at the front gate.

Tia immediately began to worry her bottom her lip. “Oh, boy. What’s going on now? We know that can’t be anyone in your family. They just walk in.” She smiled to let him know she was joking, and he couldn’t help smiling in return. Gavin strolling into the office had to have been embarrassing for her.

“We’ll see,” he said and got up to answer.

When Tia followed him, he gestured at the stairway. “You might want to get upstairs while you can.”

She seemed reluctant to leave him. “I hate that I’m causing so much trouble.”

“You’re not causing trouble. They are.”

He waited until she was out of sight before pressing the button to respond to their guest. “Hello?”

An older, gravelly voice came back to him. “This is Officer Crocker with the Silver Springs Police Department. I’m responding to a complaint we received yesterday. Are you the owner of the property?”

“The owner is Maxi Cohen, who’s out of town.” Seth suspected they already knew that. “I’m staying here in his absence—with his permission.”

“And you are...”

“Seth Turner.”

“Aiyana’s son.”

Everyone knew his mother. “Yes.”

“Do you have a moment that I could speak with you?”

Seth could tell that wasn’t as optional as it sounded. “Of course. I’ll meet you at the gate.”

Once he let go of the button, he turned to see Tia standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at him. “Should I go out with you?” she asked.

He grabbed a coat from the closet a few feet away. “No, I’ve got it.”

“What are you going to tell him?” she called as he opened the door.

“The truth.”

“Okay.” She lifted her phone to show him she had it with her. “If you need me for anything, just text me, and I’ll come out.”

“If I need you for anything, we’ll come in,” he said wryly and stepped into a blustery, wintry afternoon.