The Merriest Magnolia by Michelle Major

Author:Michelle Major
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2020-08-11T17:12:06+00:00

* * *

“THIS IS SO DUMB,” Sam muttered as he and Dylan walked across the parking lot of the old textile factory building Friday afternoon. “Why do I have to be here?”

“Natural consequences,” Dylan replied.

“You can trust me,” Sam insisted. “I learned my stupid lesson. At least let me sit in the car.”

Dylan turned on his heel, placing his hands on the boy’s shoulders when Sam almost plowed into him. He paused for a moment, noticing that Sam seemed taller than he had even a week ago and would soon catch up to Dylan in height. A kid in a man’s body.

It shouldn’t be a surprise. Wiley and Uncle Russ had both been over six feet. Height ran in the family. But the reminder of time passing whether he wanted it to or not still made his chest pinch.

“The last time I left you alone, we ended up out on the county highway surrounded by cops and firefighters. I almost pissed my pants with worry, Sam. Not going there again.”

“You mean anger,” the boy corrected. “You were angry not scared for me.”

Dylan huffed out a small laugh and bent his knees—only a little now—so he was at eye level with the boy. “Scared to pieces,” he clarified. “The anger came after I knew you were okay.”

“Oh.” He registered Sam’s sharp intake of breath. It killed him that Sam could still believe Dylan didn’t want him. Carrie would say that trust took time to build. Sam had lost everything, his entire life, so it made sense that he was going to test Dylan’s devotion. According to her, Dylan just had to stay the course and the boy would come to see that Dylan would never abandon him.

Carrie.

After three blissful nights with her in his bed, she’d seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Or at least out of his life. He’d seen glimpses of her as she worked on the festival, which was ramping up to have a hugely successful weekend. He’d been doing his part with the gingerbread village and other tasks vendors needed, but somehow Carrie had managed to keep her distance.

Had he simply been an itch she’d wanted to scratch? Or worse, had she been trying to soften him so that he’d change his plans for the real estate he owned in town? Several people had mentioned to him the names of companies that might be interested in leasing or buying the factory and surrounding land if he wanted to go in a different direction with his plans for it.

He straightened and rubbed a hand over his face and tried to put thoughts of Carrie out of his mind. Hell if he wouldn’t have done just about anything to entice her back to him.

“This place is creepy,” Sam said as he fell in step next to Dylan with slightly less attitude.

Dylan had to admit that Sam’s assessment of the factory was spot on. The building was not only dilapidated. An air of sadness surrounded it, as if the structure knew the role its closing had played in Magnolia’s downturn.

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