Ava sighed. “That was years ago, Mom. He looks good. He’s not married, and yes, of course I talked to him. We all grew up together. He’s staying at the family home long enough to fix it up and then they’re putting it up for sale.”

“Well, we have four more days here in Vegas and then we’ll be home. I’m sure we’ll get a chance to say hello before he leaves, but we’re going to miss the funeral. Please give the family our condolences, okay?”

“Yes, I will,” Ava said. “Are you having fun? Did you win any money?”

“Oh, we’re winning a little and losing a little. It’s all in fun. But we’re going to some more shows before we leave. Your dad says hello. Gotta go. Love you.”

“Love you, too,” Ava said and disconnected, then went to get her purse.

She had a ten o’clock hair appointment at the Curl Up and Dye, and then she was picking up some food from Granny’s to take to Emma.

The day was clear but chilly, so she added a heavy jacket to the red sweater and blue jeans she was wearing as she headed out the door. She thought of Hunt again as she was driving away, and swung past the house just to see if he was there. The Harley was there, but the pickup was not. It occurred to her as she headed toward the hair salon that it had been years since she’d been interested in a man’s whereabouts, but she wasn’t going to let fantasy go to her head. Hunt was obviously not interested in anything but getting out of Blessings as soon as possible. This saddened her, and she wished she knew what had happened that had broken a loving family apart.

* * *

Hunt was at the lumberyard picking up what he needed to replace the caulking in the house. The bathroom, the kitchen, and all of the windows were in serious need. Some of the windowpanes were so loose that they rattled when the wind blew. When he got what he needed, he headed back to the house.

He was coming to realize that his grudge against the others had not served his mother’s obvious needs. Even though he’d been too far away to help her when he was on active duty, after he was stateside and no longer in the military he still had made no attempt to come home.

He’d let their phone calls and texts suffice for “staying in touch,” without realizing she was losing her hold on both her health and the upkeep of the house. Yes, his siblings should have stepped up, but looking back, he wondered why he trusted they would care for her when he no longer trusted them.