Free His Ordinary Life by Linda Winfree Page B

stared.
    When he’d taken Barbara there, that August before she was supposed to leave for college, the trees had been lush and green, the evening air heavy and humid with a coming rain. He’d needed something that long ago day, to face the memories dead on, to find absolution maybe. Barbara had seemed to understand, not speaking, his hand clasped in both of hers as they picked their way through the thick underbrush.
    He hadn’t been able to go the whole way, ears buzzing, vision clouding as remembered horror rushed in on him.
    “Del, you don’t have to do this,” she’d whispered against his ear, drawing him away. “Let’s go.”
    He’d allowed her to lead him back to the pickup. Rain had started to fall when they reached the truck, drumming down on the cab, and he’d buried his face against her shoulder, giving himself over to the soothing magic in her soft touch, losing himself in her. Damn, he’d cost her so much.
    His eyes burned and he cleared his throat, looking away. Dwelling on this crap wouldn’t change anything. He needed to suck it up and move on. Barbara obviously had. It was his turn.
    Not looking back, he pressed the accelerator hard and drove on.
    * * *
    His cell phone rang, the beginning notes of an old Merle Haggard song filling the truck. He picked it up to find Tick’s cell number flashing on the caller ID. For a second, he thought about not answering then punched the call button. “Hello.”
    “Hey.” The distinctive sound of Tick’s truck rumbled behind his voice. “Where are you?”
    “Old Lonely Road,” he lied, not wanting to admit he was a scant couple of miles from where Will had died. “What’s up?”
    “I’m on my way to lunch with Tori. Thought I’d see if you wanted to join us.”
    “Yeah. You mean you want me around to take the heat off you.”
    Tick chuckled. “That, too. Come on, meet us at the Hickory House.”
    “I’m not really hungry.” Barbara’s laser-sharp barb and his little trip down memory lane had pretty much decimated his appetite.
    “Then come sip sweet tea and save me from our sister.”
    Moving on. He didn’t have the family unit he’d created with Barbara anymore, but he could find his way back to his other family. “All right, I’ll come.”
    The Hickory House’s parking lot overflowed with vehicles. Del maneuvered the Explorer into a tight spot at the edge of the adjacent pecan grove and climbed out of the SUV. Tick’s truck sat at the end of the low, squatty building, Tori’s sporty little silver Miata a few spaces away. As usual during the height of the lunch hour, the line of farmers and local businessmen extended outside the screen door, and congenial conversation flowed through pairs and small groups. Despite the length of the line, it moved quickly, and within a few minutes, Del stood before the cashier’s counter, surrounded by the rich aroma of hickory-smoked meat.
    “What’ll you have?” The pretty cashier, whose blonde hair was too platinum not to have come from a box, smiled at him, pad and pen poised.
    Del scanned the menu on the wall above her head, ordered, and handed her a ten. Pocketing his change, he threaded through the several small, crowded dining rooms, searching for his siblings. He found them at a corner table in a room decorated with an overflow of ceramic pigs.
    “Hey.” Tick rose to take his hand and pull him into a quick backslapping hug. “Glad you could make it.”
    Tori, her bright grin reminiscent of Lyssa’s, jumped to her feet to throw her arms around his neck. “Oh, it’s so good to see you.”
    A surge of affection warming his chest, Del tightened his arms around her and pulled away with a smile. “You, too.”
    Tossing back her fall of dark brown hair, Tori settled into her chair. “Are things better with Blake?”
    Del grimaced. “Well, he hasn’t slammed any doors today.”
    “If you need the name of a counselor, let me know. We have a list at the crisis center.”
    “You know,