Circle of Friends, Part 2 by Susan Mallery Page B

hotels. Ran tours, managed a bar for a while. I moved around a lot. I was never very good at staying in one place.”
    He made the statement deliberately, as if daring Dev to comment. Dev didn’t respond.
    Jackson continued, “I realized I was looking for roots, when I’d already left them behind.”
    Dev fought against feeling any emotion, even when a surge of anger swept through him. Leaving roots behind? Is that how his father characterized leaving two children right after their mother had died?
    Bob picked up his can of soda. “A lot of people go looking for what they’ve already had and lost.”
    Jackson looked at Dev. “I’m sorry I left, son. I know the words won’t mean much, but I’m speaking from the heart. You and Jimmy were...”
    Jimmy! Dev stiffened. “You know what happened to Jimmy?”
    â€œI heard,” his father told him. “Not through the military, of course. You were his next of kin. But I kept in touch with a few friends here and there and they got me word.”
    Dev had never felt so torn in his life. Part of him ached with the realization that a man had lost a son, while the rest of him hated Jackson Hunter for keeping in touch with his friends but not his boys.
    â€œThere you are,” Noelle said from the door of the pool house. “I came home to a houseful of teenagers and not another adult in sight. It was a little scary.”
    â€œYou’re back,” Dev said as he jumped to his feet. He’d never been so grateful for an interruption before in his life.
    He crossed to her and pulled her close, then kissed her. “I missed you.”
    She smiled quizzically. “I guess you did. I’ll have to go away more so I can get greetings like this again. Hi, Dad. Jackson. How’s it going?”
    â€œGood. I should probably be heading home in a few minutes. Your mother’s making a pot roast tonight and I never miss one of those.”
    â€œI remember.” Noelle wrinkled her nose. “I should do a head count for dinner, myself.”
    â€œWant some help?” Dev asked.
    Her blue eyes seemed to see more than they should, but he didn’t care. Anything to get out of this conversation.
    â€œSure,” she said. “Assuming we can be heard over the movie. It’s so loud in there. You know, you’re allowed to tell them to turn it down. Jackson, want to join us?”
    So far his father had avoided meals with the family, but this time, he nodded. “Sure.”
    â€œGood.” Noelle took Dev’s hand and turned toward the house. “Give me a couple of hours to get myself together. Say six?”
    â€œSounds good.”
    â€œOkay. Daddy, come in and say goodbye before you leave.”
    â€œWill do.”
    With that, Dev and Noelle made their way toward the house.
    â€œAre you angry that I asked my dad over?” she asked when they were by the French doors leading inside. Even from out here, he could hear the loud soundtrack on the movie.
    â€œNo. Having a third party around is a good idea.”
    She stared into his eyes. “He’s just an old man, Dev. He’s not the devil.”
    â€œI’m having trouble reconciling the two thoughts. He lost a son. I never got that before and I feel bad for him.”
    â€œBut?”
    â€œBut he admitted he’d kept in touch with friends in the area. Why the hell would he be in contact with them and not us? We’re his children. He just walked, Noelle. I don’t care whose idea it was. He just walked.”
    She surprised him by leaning forward and wrapping her arms around him. “I know,” she whispered. “I really like him, but then I think about what he did to you and it’s awful. I know I said you should reconcile and I still believe that. It’s the only way to heal those wounds inside, but it’s not going to be easy. I guess we were never promised easy, huh?”
    Instead of