Blue finally located Dean in the weeds behind the barn. He had his hands on his hips, and he was gazing at the rusted frame of a red pickup truck. Through the gaping hole where the passenger door had once been, she could see springs poking through what was left of the upholstery. A pair of dragonflies flitted over the rotted wood, bald tires, and unidentifiable pieces of farm machinery that littered the truck bed. She followed the path he’d made through the weeds. As she got closer, she spotted the remnants of a bird’s nest roosting on the steering wheel column. “I know it’s tempting to trade in your Vanquish now that you’ve seen this,” she said, “but I’m against it.”

His hands fell from his hips. His eyes were bleak. “It just gets better and better, doesn’t it?”

“There’s nothing like a little drama to get your adrenaline pumping.” She resisted the urge to put her arm around him again. “Jack told Riley he’d stay for a week,” she said softly. “But he’s taking her to Nashville for the weekend. We’ll see if he comes back.”

His face contorted. “How did this fucking happen? All these years I’ve kept him away from me, and now, in a few seconds, I blow the whole thing.”

“I thought you were wonderful,” she said. “And this is coming from someone who loves to find fault with you.”

She couldn’t eke out even the trace of a smile. He kicked the rusted fender. “You think I did Riley a favor in there?”

“I do. You stood up for her.”

“I’ve only caused her more trouble. Jack doesn’t care about anything but his career, and all I did for Riley was set her up for another letdown.”

“She’s spent a lot more time with him than you, so she probably knows him fairly well. I doubt her expectations are very high.”

He snatched up a piece of rotted wood and hurled it into the truck bed. “The son of a bitch had better stay out of sight. I don’t want any link between us.”

“I’m sure the last thing he’ll do is advertise his presence.” She hesitated, trying to figure out how to put this, but Dean was already there.

“Don’t say it. Do you think I haven’t figured out I’m the real reason she wants to stay here? She gave up on Jack long ago. I should have driven away the minute I saw April come out that front door.”

Blue didn’t want him revisiting the part she’d played in keeping him here. She picked at a fleck of rust. “Let’s look on the positive side.”

“Oh, all right. Let’s hurry up and do that.”

“This is the first time you’ve had your mother and father together. That’s monumental.”