Chapter 20

December changed into January and then February, and Jaime had been gone from Heron’s Landing for two months. Two long months, where he’d stayed in St. Louis with his parents to figure out what the hell he was going to do with his life.

He’d shown up at his parents’ place a few days before New Year’s. His mother had looked at him for just a second before she ushered him inside and plied him with more food than any one person could eat, while his father stood over them, his face creased in concern. Jaime had told them the entire story—they’d already known about Eric getting arrested—and he’d mentioned Grace more than once. His parents had looked at each other, but said nothing.

His father Fernando sat next to him on the floral couch Jaime’s mother had bought over twenty years ago, and said in Spanish, “You can stay with us as long as you need, Jaimito.”

If he hadn’t been so exhausted, he would’ve cried in relief.

The charges were still very much in the back of his mind, though. Afte