What Might Have Been: Daniels Brother #4 (Daniels Brothers) (13 page)

The patio door slid open and Elizabeth walked in carrying a tray of meat that smelled heavenly. A second later, Chris followed, closing the door behind him. When she saw Trent, Elizabeth smiled and brought the food over to the table.

Chris placed the dirty grilling utensils he’d been carrying into the sink, then joined Elizabeth at the table. They both took their seats. The exchange was almost too calm and Trent wondered if his brother had told Elizabeth about Abby last night after he’d left.

It was in that moment Chris spotted Abby across the room. Elizabeth seemed to sense her husband’s attention had shifted and followed his gaze.

It took a few moments for everyone in the room to realize the atmosphere had changed. Trent saw Abby stiffen.

Without thinking it through, Trent crossed the room to stand by Abby’s side. He wanted to be there if she needed him. The ball was in Chris’ court and they all waited with bated breath to see what would happen next.

Chapter 10

Abby felt Trent come up next to her and she appreciated his support.

Chris watched her for a long moment, stood, and walked over to stand in front of her. “It’s good to see you, Abby.”

“You, too.” She hated how unsteady her voice sounded.

He glanced at his brother, and then back to her. “Trent didn’t mention you were coming today.”

“It was a last minute thing.”

Abby had been so focused on Chris that she didn’t notice the woman behind him until she held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Elizabeth. Chris’ wife.”

Elizabeth’s demeanor was friendly enough, but there was also an edge to it. Chris’ wife was staking her claim, which meant she knew Abby and Chris’ history—at least some of it. Abby couldn’t say she blamed the woman for being a bit territorial.

“Nice to meet you,” Abby said, shaking her hand.

“Daddy, I’m hungry.” Chloe’s voice broke through the awkwardness.

Marilyn whirled around, a casserole dish in her hands. “Then you’re in luck. Dinner’s ready.”

Chloe beamed and ran to take a seat at the table.

“Chris, would you grab the lemonade out of the refrigerator, please? I forgot.” Marilyn acted as if the exchange between Abby and Chris was completely normal.

“Sure.”

Elizabeth grinned and returned to her seat, and Marilyn pulled yet another dish out of the oven. It brought back memories of Abby’s teenage years. Marilyn always made so much food, and yet there were rarely any leftovers. One of the hazards of having four boys, she used to say. By the looks of it, getting older hadn’t done anything to diminish their appetites.

Trent brushed the back of his hand down her arm, sending tingles in its wake. It reminded her of the night before when his hands had been in lots of other places on her body. “You doin’ all right?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” Abby wanted to lean into him, but she settled for a smile instead. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“Dinner’s ready,” Marilyn announced.

“After you?” Trent said, gesturing toward the table.

Abby nodded.

She chose the seat across from Paul’s wife, Megan. Trent lowered himself into the chair beside her. Chris and Elizabeth were at the other end of the table.

Food was passed around as everyone filled their plates. It felt very familiar. The years hadn’t changed this tradition.

Once everyone’s plate was full, they all began eating. The food was delicious and she found herself smiling as she ate.

“Trent said you grew up around here,” Megan said about halfway through the meal.

Abby didn’t miss how Elizabeth paused, waiting to hear Abby’s response. “Yeah, I think I spent more time at the Danielses’ old house than I did my own.”

“We loved having you. You know that. You helped to balance out some of the testosterone.” Marilyn winked at her before going back to her food.

Everyone laughed—even Elizabeth chuckled a little. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. She couldn’t avoid Chris entirely, but as long as she was careful and didn’t make his wife feel threatened, then Abby thought she’d be okay.

Elizabeth had nothing to worry about, though. Chris was still as handsome as ever, but Abby didn’t feel anything remotely romantic for him anymore. Whether that had to do with what had happened between them or not, Abby had no idea. It didn’t matter.

“So tell me,” Megan said, “what were these guys like as kids? Did they get into trouble a lot?”

Abby felt Trent’s hand on her thigh and she laced her fingers with his. “They all had their moments, but I think Gage was the worst. Then again, maybe that was just because he was the youngest and he was always trying to show up his older brothers.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Marilyn said, a huge grin on her face. “They all got into a fair amount of mischief growing up.”

The conversation swiftly turned to each brother sharing embarrassing stories about the others. She recalled most of the things they brought up, including when Trent and Chris decided it would be a good idea to build an underground fort. Marilyn and Mike had come home to find a hole three foot deep in the backyard—the entrance to the fort. Abby had been right there with them, helping to carry buckets of dirt away from the construction site.

They all continued to reminisce long after they were finished eating. Chloe had run off to the living room as soon as she was done to start reading the new book her grandmother had gotten her. It was all very normal. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard she’d cried.

Eventually, Marilyn announced it was time to get things cleaned up and they all stood to help. Abby had always been impressed with was how everyone pitched in. Paul, Chris, Trent, and Gage had chores growing up. In fact, she remembered coming over one day and feeling left out because they all had stuff to do and she didn’t. Marilyn picked up on it, of course, and had asked if she’d like some chores to do, too.

Looking back, Abby couldn’t believe she had actually asked for work to do, but she’d wanted to feel included more than anything else. It had made her feel like she was part of their family. She loved her dad like crazy, but it had only been the two of them and he worked a lot trying to support them. Abby didn’t know what she would have done with herself if the Daniels family hadn’t embraced her like they did.

With eight adults working together, it didn’t take long to get things cleaned up and put away. Abby, Trent, and Elizabeth worked to put the small amount of leftover food in the containers Marilyn had fished out of the cabinets, while Megan found a spot for them in the refrigerator.

Mike filled the sink with water and Paul dug a couple of dishtowels out of the drawer for him and Chris. It was quite a sight to see, really. Everything was in sync. They all knew their jobs and got them done.

The guys were about halfway through washing the dishes when Marilyn guided the women outside. “We’ll let the boys finish up.”

Marilyn, Abby, Megan, and Elizabeth headed out to the deck that ran almost the entire width of the house. Considering the size of the yard, which was smaller than the one they’d had before, the wooden structure should have felt overwhelming. Instead, it complemented the space and framed the landscape. Abby wondered if it was one of Trent’s designs.

Abby sat in one of the lounge chairs and took a sip of her lemonade. It was warm out, but there was a nice breeze. She closed her eyes and tried to enjoy the moment.

She should have known it was too good to last.

“Trent seems awfully protective of you. Is there something going on between you two?” At Megan’s question, Abby opened her eyes. The reprieve was apparently over.

She glanced at Marilyn, but there was nothing on her face but curiosity. “Um.”

Abby was saved from having to answer when the sliding door was pushed open and a woman she didn’t know walked out, cradling a baby in her arms. The child only looked to be a few days old.

Marilyn hopped up from her chair and rushed over to the woman. Everyone turned their attention to the new arrival, so they didn’t notice the change in Abby. A cold chill shivered down her spine and took up residence in the pit of her stomach as realization set in. Given the other women’s reaction and the news Trent had shared with her on their date Friday night, Abby had to assume this was Rebecca, Gage’s wife, and their new baby.

“I want to hold my niece,” Megan said, already taking the baby from the woman’s arms. Rebecca and Megan were sisters, if Abby remembered correctly.

Megan cradled the child as if it were the most precious thing in the world. She placed her finger in the girl’s tiny hands and stared down in awe. 

“Pull up a chair, Rebecca,” Elizabeth said, moving another seat next to hers.

Rebecca released a contented sigh as she relaxed into the lounge chair. “I never realized how much longer that drive would seem with a baby.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” Marilyn asked.

“It was a last minute decision. The team has a bye week and since we didn’t know when we’d get the chance to get up here to visit next, we thought we’d better take advantage.”

Megan, Marilyn, and Elizabeth gushed over the baby. It brought back memories of Kaylee. Little Madison had the same head full of dark hair and strong jawline all the Danielses had—including Kaylee.

Abby felt the emotions bubbling up inside her. Flashes of her child filled her vision and made it difficult to concentrate on the conversation happening right in front of her.

“Abby?”

She blinked several times before refocusing on Marilyn. “Sorry. I missed what you said.”

“Are you feeling all right?” Marilyn looked concerned.

“I’m fine. I just . . .” Abby did her best to smile through the pain she was feeling. “Excuse me for a moment.”

Not giving any of them time to ask any more questions, Abby disappeared into the house and made a beeline for the bathroom she’d passed on her way in. She felt the tears threatening and she didn’t want to start crying in front of them.

Abby closed the door behind her and sank down onto the floor. Moisture filled her eyes and she let the tears fall down her cheeks as grief overtook her. Seeing Chloe had been bad enough, but Gage’s daughter looked too much like Kaylee had, the one and only time Abby had gotten to hold her. Kaylee who, instead of making happy gurgling sounds like Madison, had been silent . . . lifeless.

It had been years since she’d felt the loss of her daughter so acutely, but seeing Madison had hit home like nothing else could. Abby wrapped her hand around the pendant dangling from her neck—her constant reminder that her daughter had existed.

***

Once the women headed outside to the deck, leaving the men alone in the kitchen, the questions began.

Chris held a cup in one hand and a dishtowel in the other. “What’s going on between you and Abby?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Trent said as he finished drying a plate.

Paul snorted. “Denial, man. It won’t get you anywhere. Believe me.”

“They were holding hands when I came in the house,” his dad chimed in with a smirk on his face.

Trent couldn’t believe his father had just thrown him under the bus.

Chris placed the cup down on the counter and narrowed his eyes at his younger brother. “So there is something going on.”

“No slacking, boys. You can work and grill your brother at the same time.” Mike Daniels thrust another glass in Chris’ direction.

He took it, but didn’t relax his stance as he glared at Trent.

At the sound of the front door opening, they all stopped. Trent didn’t miss how Paul’s right hand slipped into his pocket. His brother was no doubt carrying. Being a cop, Paul didn’t go very many places without being armed. He said it was safer that way. There was always a chance of running into someone he’d arrested.

A heartbeat later, Chloe let out an excited squeal. “Uncle Gage! Aunt Becca!”

The dishes were momentarily forgotten as the new arrivals made their way into the kitchen.

“I didn’t know you guys were coming,” Paul said, walking over to take a peek at the newest addition to the family.

“The team’s got a bye week, so we thought we’d come and let you all meet Madison.”

The five men formed a small circle around the tiny baby sleeping in her carrier. Madison was only a week old. Her head was covered in dark hair and she was sucking on one of her fists.

“Where’s Ma?” Gage asked.

Mike Daniels looked up at his son. “The ladies are relaxing out on the porch.”

“Why don’t you hang out in here with the boys and I’ll take Madison to see your mom?” Rebecca said.

Gage set the carrier on the table so Rebecca could pick Madison up and take her outside.

“How’s it feel to be a dad?” Paul asked once the door had closed behind Rebecca.

“It’s great. I don’t even mind when she wakes up crying in the middle of the night.”

Paul chuckled. “Give it a month.”

They all laughed.

Chris tossed a clean towel in Gage’s direction and they got back to work on the dishes. Luckily for Trent, the subject of his relationship with Abby didn’t come up again. Everyone was too caught up in Gage, Rebecca, and Madison.

That was until Abby came rushing into the house like something was hot on her heels. She didn’t even glance in his direction before ducking into the bathroom down the hall.

“Is she okay?” Paul asked to no one in particular.

“I don’t know.” Trent threw his towel down on the counter and marched toward the bathroom.

The door was closed by the time he reached it. He debated whether to knock, but something didn’t seem right about the way she’d run past. Something was wrong. “Abby? Are you okay?”

She didn’t answer.

“Abby . . .” Trent rested his forehead against the door, considering his options. That’s when he heard what sounded like crying coming from inside.

Not thinking about anything but getting to her, he reached for the doorknob. It wasn’t locked. He cracked the door open. “Abby, I’m coming in.”

What he saw when he opened the door broke his heart. Abby was sitting on the floor along the back wall with tears streaming down her face.