“So, what happened with Kate?” I ask, looking up at him.

“How about we get a coffee and I’ll tell you all about it?”

I nod enthusiastically. “There’s a café just around the corner.”

We walk to a nearby café and order some coffees, then Max tells me about Kate and how it just wasn’t working out. He thinks him not being able to have kids played a big part.

“I thought she’d accepted you couldn’t have kids?”

He sighs and shrugs. “People change their minds, petal. She’s a woman; I can’t hate her for suddenly feeling the need to be a mother.”

I nod. “True.”

“How’s your dad? Liam?”

I frown and look away. “I don’t see Dad much.”

“Oh,” he says, patting my hand. “Sorry, kid.”

“Liam isn’t great either. He’s not been in a good place after Momma went.”

“Taylah changed many lives,” he admits. “I never met her, but I can say she’s consumed my mind so many times over the years. So much so I looked further into it. It’s a cold case, but I’ve found a few leads that haven’t been investigated enough so I have had permission to investigate further.”

“You did?” I ask, feeling my heart skip a beat.

“I did.”

“And . . .”

“I’ve got a few leads, Avery. I’m not going to tell you what they are because I don’t want to get your hopes up. I promise, though, if I find something I will tell you.”

I swallow and try to fight back my tears. He reaches across and takes both of my hands in his. “I don’t know how hard these years have been for you, because I couldn’t imagine the pain of losing someone the way you did. But I can tell you that I will do everything I can to see if I can find information. There has to be something we’ve missed.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “I can’t begin to tell you how much this means to me.”

He smiles, his grey eyes softening. “I think I get that.”

“Here’s your coffee.”

A small, blond waitress puts two cups down and then rushes off. I take mine and stir it before taking a sip. Yum.

“I’ll be in town a while. I’m setting up base here until I decide to drop the case. I’ve rented an apartment not far from yours.”

“Really?” I smile, glad to finally have someone I can talk to who understands.

“Really. I’ll go and see Liam tomorrow.”

I nod. Liam adored Max, and I think if there’s anyone at all that can get through to Liam, it’s him. Speaking of Liam, I still need to go and visit. I’ve been meaning to do it since Kelly and I spoke but I’ve not had the chance. Maybe tonight is the best time to do that.

“I might go and see him tonight. Did you want to come?”

He nods. “That would be great. He won’t mind?”

I shake my head. “I think he’ll be just fine with it.”

~*~*~*~

“What are you doing here, Avie?” Liam asks, staring down at the beer in my hands.

“I’m coming to visit you.”

He looks confused, his brows furrowing. “No lectures?”

“I’m your sister, not your mother. I just wanted to hang out.”

“Hang out?” he says skeptically.

I beam. “There may be something else . . .”

“There always fuckin’ is,” he grunts, turning to shut the door in my face.

“Don’t talk to your sister like that, boy.”

Liam stops and slowly turns, a grin spreading across his face. I’ve not seen my brother smile for years. “Mad Max?”

Max appears and Liam’s grin nearly splits his face in half.

“Well fuck me!” he says, reaching out and taking Max’s hand.

The two hug and Max takes a minute to look over Liam.

“Boy, it seems it’s time we have a serious talk.”

Liam looks to me and back to Max.

“But,” Max adds. “Not until we’ve finished all this beer.”

Liam grins again.

“What’s dragged you back to this shithole?” he asks, shutting the door.

“Workin’ a case,” Max says. “How’s things been?”

Liam and Max spend the next two hours talking, with me joining in where I can. We laugh, we talk, we eat and we drink. Well, they drink. I really can’t afford to have any more beer. By the time I leave, I feel like I’ve pieced just a touch of my family back together.

It feels good having Max home, and I can only pray that he can help Liam.

That just leaves Dad.

CHAPTER 10

NATE

“Swing me faster, Daddy,” Macy cries and I swing her in a full circle as fast as I’ll allow myself.

I hear Lena laughing behind me, and it’s probably the first time in a while things seem to be going okay. Granted, there are still a shitload of fights, but today, for some strange reason, we’ve been able to act like a family.

“How about we go out for lunch together?” Lena suggests as I set Macy on her feet.

I look down at my little girl with a smile. “What do you reckon, shorty?”

She squeals and claps her hands. “Yay!”

I take her hand and turn to Lena. “Where are we going?”

She shrugs. “How about the diner by the ocean?”