got enough food for everyone! We didn’t want you worrying about nothing while we work this out.” Miss Lily walked past Pierce and shot him a wink as she headed into the kitchen followed by her sisters.
“I hope you all don’t mind us dropping by either,” Will said as he gave Marcy a peck on the cheek before shaking Pierce’s hand.
“Not at all, dear! You all are part of our family. Dani, bless your heart, take a seat and put those feet up. Just three more months to go to meet that little one. How are you two holding up?” Marcy asked as she escorted Dani to the nearest chair.
“I feel great, thank you. I’m a little worried about leaving, though,” Dani gave a little smile to Mo, who returned it with one of his own.
“Yes, we leave next month for Rahmi. The baby must be born there in case it is a boy and heir to the kingdom. There are all kinds of ceremonial events and procedures we’ll have to go through if Dani provides us with an heir. Luckily, our doctor agreed to fly out around her due date to take care of her. And of course, you all are more than welcome! Dani wants all her family there, which means we need to take care of little brother. How are you doing, Pierce?” Mo asked as he shifted into his no-nonsense business voice.
“I’m exhausted and starving,” Pierce said with a little laugh as he finished getting hugs from his brothers.
“I heard that! Give me one second and we’ll have lunch ready for everyone!” Miss Violet called from the depths of the kitchen.
Pierce savored every bite of the pecan-encrusted catfish as he listened to his brothers tease their wives and his mother fussing over the babies. It felt almost normal. Almost. The look on Tammy’s face when she opened the door said it all. They didn’t think he’d ever come home. When Katelyn knocked on the door as he and Henry were discussing the case, he thought he was imagining things. But his sister-in-law strutted into the room and placed a cashier’s check for the full bond on the table and told him it was time to go home.
He had asked her on the drive to the farm why she'd give so much of her money to get him out of jail. Katelyn gave him a smile and said she had a feeling that it would be refunded in no time when the charges were dropped. Then she winked and she said she’d then use the money as an investment in Pierce. Pierce gave up wondering what it meant and just enjoyed being out of jail.
“Pierce, do you think you’re up to telling us what happened?” Miles asked quietly, but it wasn’t quiet enough. All the comforting noises stopped and everyone froze as they waited to hear what he'd say. Did they not think he'd tell them if he could?
“I’m sorry, I just don’t remember.” Pierce set down his food and waited. He knew it would come.
“Have you tried working backwards? Start with your most recent memories and go back?” Paige asked.
“I don’t remember. I’m sorry.” Pierce took a breath and hoped it would be the end of it.
“It’s in there somewhere, you just have to find a way to get it out,” Cade said as he took a bite of his sandwich.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Pierce tossed down the napkin and slid his chair back. “But that doesn’t help me. Nothing has helped me remember. And why don’t you discuss with Kenna the consequences in court if I can’t put forth any argument except ‘I don’t remember.’”
Pierce knew his family was simply trying to understand what happened, but it was just too much. He couldn’t have them all staring at him as if the memories would come back at any second. “Excuse me for a moment, please.” Pierce stood up and avoided looking at his family before ducking out the front door.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wanted to feel the breeze and listen to the world. Instead he heard a car door close and heels tapping along the walkway. Opening his eyes, Pierce didn’t even try to hide the curse as Jasmine approached him a
“I hope you all don’t mind us dropping by either,” Will said as he gave Marcy a peck on the cheek before shaking Pierce’s hand.
“Not at all, dear! You all are part of our family. Dani, bless your heart, take a seat and put those feet up. Just three more months to go to meet that little one. How are you two holding up?” Marcy asked as she escorted Dani to the nearest chair.
“I feel great, thank you. I’m a little worried about leaving, though,” Dani gave a little smile to Mo, who returned it with one of his own.
“Yes, we leave next month for Rahmi. The baby must be born there in case it is a boy and heir to the kingdom. There are all kinds of ceremonial events and procedures we’ll have to go through if Dani provides us with an heir. Luckily, our doctor agreed to fly out around her due date to take care of her. And of course, you all are more than welcome! Dani wants all her family there, which means we need to take care of little brother. How are you doing, Pierce?” Mo asked as he shifted into his no-nonsense business voice.
“I’m exhausted and starving,” Pierce said with a little laugh as he finished getting hugs from his brothers.
“I heard that! Give me one second and we’ll have lunch ready for everyone!” Miss Violet called from the depths of the kitchen.
Pierce savored every bite of the pecan-encrusted catfish as he listened to his brothers tease their wives and his mother fussing over the babies. It felt almost normal. Almost. The look on Tammy’s face when she opened the door said it all. They didn’t think he’d ever come home. When Katelyn knocked on the door as he and Henry were discussing the case, he thought he was imagining things. But his sister-in-law strutted into the room and placed a cashier’s check for the full bond on the table and told him it was time to go home.
He had asked her on the drive to the farm why she'd give so much of her money to get him out of jail. Katelyn gave him a smile and said she had a feeling that it would be refunded in no time when the charges were dropped. Then she winked and she said she’d then use the money as an investment in Pierce. Pierce gave up wondering what it meant and just enjoyed being out of jail.
“Pierce, do you think you’re up to telling us what happened?” Miles asked quietly, but it wasn’t quiet enough. All the comforting noises stopped and everyone froze as they waited to hear what he'd say. Did they not think he'd tell them if he could?
“I’m sorry, I just don’t remember.” Pierce set down his food and waited. He knew it would come.
“Have you tried working backwards? Start with your most recent memories and go back?” Paige asked.
“I don’t remember. I’m sorry.” Pierce took a breath and hoped it would be the end of it.
“It’s in there somewhere, you just have to find a way to get it out,” Cade said as he took a bite of his sandwich.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Pierce tossed down the napkin and slid his chair back. “But that doesn’t help me. Nothing has helped me remember. And why don’t you discuss with Kenna the consequences in court if I can’t put forth any argument except ‘I don’t remember.’”
Pierce knew his family was simply trying to understand what happened, but it was just too much. He couldn’t have them all staring at him as if the memories would come back at any second. “Excuse me for a moment, please.” Pierce stood up and avoided looking at his family before ducking out the front door.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He wanted to feel the breeze and listen to the world. Instead he heard a car door close and heels tapping along the walkway. Opening his eyes, Pierce didn’t even try to hide the curse as Jasmine approached him a
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