Forbidden by Abbie Williams Page B

tried to smile at him, but her lips felt stiff.
    â€œLittle Elizabeth,” he said, and his voice was even warmer in real life. She wanted to like him, wanted to force him to talk, to spill every last secret he knew. “Since when did you change it?”
    Her name, she realized. Did he mean from Sternhagen, or Elizabeth? She stammered, “There were two other Beths in my kindergarten class. I wanted to be different so I used my middle name instead.”
    â€œBryce was our mama’s maiden name,” he told her. “Our real mother, that is, Margaret Bryce.”
    She nodded at this revelation, something she had not known, and then he moved to let her finish coming down the steps. A boy with shaggy blond hair was hanging back shyly, and Wilder introduced him as Cody.
    â€œHey,” the boy said. He wore a torn t-shirt and dirty jeans, and had a bandana knotted around his head, remniscent of his mother. Bryce didn’t move to hug him; he looked sticky and she was relieved when he turned and headed to the kitchen.
    â€œDinner’s ready, you three!” Erica called, and Bryce breathed in the tangy smell of spaghetti and meatballs, something she hadn’t eaten since Wade had splurged on a trip to an expensive Italian restaurant in Oklahoma City to celebrate Bryce turning 18 and likewise marking the moment when their relationship was no longer illegal in the eyes of the law.
    â€œHave a seat,” Erica told her, nodding at the table that Evelyn was placing forks upon.
    â€œJust not there, that’s my chair,” Emma informed her, and received a smack on the shoulder from Evelyn.
    â€œLike she’s supposed to know that,” she told her little sister, and Emma pouted as she slapped a basket of breadsticks on the table. Bryce hid her smile and deliberately moved to a new chair as Cody plopped down beside her, pulling his bandana off in one smooth motion, revealing hair that had been caked with mud sometime in the day.
    â€œRiley and Matty are coming,” Wilder told his wife, and she nodded distractedly.
    â€œWell, they can join in when they get here, this is ready right now,” she added, and clapped down a giant bowl of salad greens and two bottles of dressing. Wilder winked at his wife as the girls joined them. There was a pause, and Bryce cringed, sure they were going to pray and thank the Lord for her safe arrival or something equally awkward, but everyone dug in with no ceremony, and she carefully let out the breath she had been holding.
    â€œCody Patrick, your hair is a disgrace,” his mother informed him.
    â€œMe and Jenny were catching frogs,” he explained. “And we saw a huge snake right in the water by the beach! Right by where everyone was swimming! ”
    Evelyn said, “Grossin’ me out, Cody.”
    Emma cried, “Why didn’t you come and get me to see it? I’m finding it tomorrow!”
    Erica shook her head. “You know better than to bother snakes.”
    â€œAww, M o-o m—”
    The screen door slammed and a male voice called, “Sorry we’re late, Erica!”
    â€œDon’t worry, we didn’t wait,” she responded pleasantly, and a moment later a tall, good-looking guy came swooping into the kitchen. He stopped short at the sight of Bryce and pulled the green baseball cap from his head almost involuntarily, revealing a halo of messy red-gold curls. “Well, hel- lo there.”
    â€œThis is Bryce,” Erica explained. “Bryce, this is my baby brother, Riley Christianson.”
    â€œHi, Uncle Riley,” the kids chorused, and Cody enthusiastically spouted, “Me and Jenny saw a huge snake today, way bigger’n the one we caught last summer!”
    â€œNice to meet you,” Bryce added quietly.
    â€œLikewise,” he said.
    From down the hall behind him another voice called, “Ri, help me unload the groceries, will ya?” as the screen door slammed and