More than he should have. He’d probably been trying to buy their love, since he couldn’t get it any other way. He’d paid their mortgage for several months when Graham got sick and couldn’t work. He’d replaced their old car because the repair bills that were coming in were more than what the vehicle was worth. He’d even given them paintings and sculptures as gifts they’d then sold to pay off debt. They didn’t understand or appreciate his work. They only liked the prestige of being associated with him—and the money they could get from him.

“They’ve always been difficult, even for Shiloh,” he admitted. His late wife had apologized for them many times and told him that it didn’t matter what they thought. But it mattered to him. The rejection he’d suffered when he was put up for adoption at six years old made him desperate to find the acceptance and unconditional love he’d been denied. He’d done everything he could to win them over, and they’d taken advantage of his need. It wasn’t until Shiloh died that he recognized it wasn’t really him they’d finally embraced.

Aiyana tilted her head, studying him.

“What?” he said at the speculative look on her face.

“I’m so proud of you,” she replied. “I couldn’t have a better son.”

He wished he’d been born to her. She’d done everything she could for him, and it had made a world of difference. But what he couldn’t tell her—and wouldn’t tell her because he never wanted her to think he was ungrateful—was that no amount of love could make up for the fact that his own mother hadn’t wanted him enough to bring him back home. He was the only child she hadn’t rescued in the end. Not only had she changed her mind about his older brother and reclaimed him, she’d changed her mind about his younger one, too.

So the question that burned uppermost in his mind, and would give him no relief, was Why not me?

Ten

Ray Kouretas had never been to Silver Springs. He was a city boy born and raised in Carson, east of Interstate 110 in the Los Angeles area, which was blue-collar through and through. The hygge vibe that was so prevalent in this community couldn’t have painted a bigger contrast. And he didn’t particularly like it. He couldn’t relate, didn’t feel comfortable here.