He didn’t like budgets and saving. She’d been raised to be frugal, raised to bank your money, not spend it.

And then the discovery that David wanted out. He’d fallen in love with someone else.

“We were separated at the time my husband and kids died,” Harley said quietly, turning the loose bread slices sideways to cut them into strips. “No one knew that we were struggling. At least, I’d never told anyone in my family that David wanted a divorce. I couldn’t.” She looked up at Brock. “I didn’t want a divorce. Maybe it wasn’t a perfect marriage, but it was my marriage, and David was my husband, and we had three beautiful children. And I lost it all because he went behind my back, ignored me.” She gave her head a small shake and returned to cubing the bread. “So no, I would never defy you. Not unless it was life and death.”

Brock’s dark head inclined. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

 

 

 

Harley worked hard to stay busy all day, and worked even harder to stay out of Brock’s way, so when the kids were at loose ends in the early afternoon, and Harley had caught up on her chores, she bundled up in layers and headed outside to find the kids, her pockets full of carrots and charcoal briquettes and an extra scarf to help them build a snowman.

At first the twins laughed at her, claiming they were too old to make snowmen, but when Harley started rolling snow around to make a big snow ball, they suddenly joined in, competing to see who could make the biggest ball and before she knew it, they were throwing snow and pushing each other into snow and chasing each other around the yard.

Harley screamed with laughter as Molly shoved a glove full of snow down the back of her coat, and inside her shirt. “That’s cold,” she shrieked, dancing from foot to foot as she swiped at the snow, trying to get it out.

The snow wasn’t going to come out. It was already melting and making her wet and cold, which meant the only thing left to do was give Molly a taste of her own medicine.

Harley made a big snow ball, ducked behind one of the pine trees and waited until Molly was whizzing snow balls at Mack and then dropped her snow ball right on top of Molly’s head.

But instead of laughing, Molly fell apart and stormed off, marching into the house.

Harley felt bad when Molly left. “I shouldn’t have done that,” she said, brushing snow from her gloves.

“You were just playing.”

“She didn’t like it.”

“Molly likes to make the rules and be in charge. If she’s not, she has a hissy fit.”

Harley shot him a quick side glance. “Does that bother you?”

“Most of the time, no. Every now and then, yeah. She doesn’t realize that she wins because I let her win. I just don’t care enough to always fight.”

“That’s very mature of you.”

He shrugged. “It’s just a survival thing. Uncle Troy always said you got to pick your fights or you’ll be like Uncle Trey, serving time for fighting the wrong folks.” Mack saw her shocked expression and grimaced. “Yeah. I know. It’s bad.”

“This is your dad’s brother?”

“Yeah, and Uncle Trey was our favorite uncle, too. He used to live in Marietta so we’d see him a lot. But he’s been in jail a long time now.” Mack added a note of warning. “But don’t mention it to my dad. It makes him really upset. Uncle Trey was like Dad’s best friend.”

The wind swept through the trees, blowing snow from the limbs as they started walking back to the house.

Mack peeled off his gloves wet and tugged off his hat. “I get mad at Molly sometimes,” he said, “but she is my best friend.”

Harley smiled. “You’re lucky you have each other.”

He nodded. “Yeah. But it’s going to be weird in January.”

Harley glanced at the boy. “Weird, why?”

“Because I don’t know what’s going to happen with the Academy.” They’d reached the back porch and took turns scraping snow off the soles of their boots. “I don’t want to go back, not without her.”

“But Molly’s going back—” Harley broke off, seeing Mack’s brow furrow and his eyes darken. “Isn’t she?”

“They kicked her out.” Mack’s lips compressed. “Permanently, this time.”

“What did she do?”

He sighed. “Everything.”

Harley shivered inside her coat. “She’s been in trouble before?”

“Yes. They warned her that next time they’d expel her, but that’s what Molly wanted. She doesn’t like being away from Dad.