Free A Family Name by Liz Botts Page B

were
actually just headed back. Lexi and Charlotte need to get
home."
    Charlotte could have sworn that Bill looked
relieved, although since she didn't know him all that well, she
shrugged it off. "That's a good idea. Before it gets too late. I
hope you'll visit again soon."
    "What's that supposed to mean?" Will asked,
tensing up again.
    "Nothing, son. I just think that everyone
could use some space given the situation."
    Charlotte felt irrational anger slam into
her. What situation was he referring to? Lexi? She wasn't a
situation. Beside her Will curled a hand into a fist. Without
thinking, Charlotte reached out and grabbed it with her hand.
    "There's no situation, Dad. And honestly, we
don't need space. If Charlotte would agree, I'd move them into the
house tonight," Will said.
    "What about Sierra and Shane?" Bill
asked.
    "What about them?" Will shot back.
    "Don't you think their world has been turned
upside down enough?" Bill's horse danced a little to one side,
making Charlotte gasp with nerves. She and horses did not always
mix well.
    "Sierra and Shane are my responsibility, and
if I think adding people to my household is in our best interest,
then it is none of your business," Will snapped.
    Before Bill could respond Charlotte startled
herself by saying, "You know what? I think that Lexi and I need to
get back to Rapid City so we can pack some bags."

Chapter Five
     
    Will set his briefcase beside the door, and
loosened his tie as he listened to the warm commotion coming from
the kitchen. It still surprised him how much he enjoyed the chaos.
For a man who prided himself on being a solitary individual, he
loved each little invasion of his space even when it got
overwhelming. He couldn't believe his luck that Charlotte's
director had agreed to their unusual living situation. Having his
daughter and Charlotte in the house felt good, right. It rankled
him that Charlotte's official role was that of supervisor, but
intellectually he understood the necessity of playing by the
rules.
    His keys clattered as he tossed them into the
bowl in on the entryway table. The noise echoed in his ears; a
tinny sound that cut through the pandemonium in the background.
Will's hand froze on his wallet. Migraine auras often made him
experience heightened sensory awareness. So far he had been
blissfully migraine free since Charlotte and Lexi had moved in, and
he didn't relish having to share that information with them.
    Being a migraine patient had always made Will
feel inept and incompetent. No matter how many times his doctor
told him that his main trigger for the intense headaches was
stress, Will always believed he could stop them if he tried hard
enough. And yet, every time he failed to manage his stress, the
migraine roared down on him with the fury of an F-5 tornado.
    This couldn't be one of those times, though,
he told himself. Classes had gone well today. The extra course he
had taken over for Steve required little more than reading a series
of slides while the students took notes, and he loved teaching his
own courses. Office hours had flown by. And the drive home had been
full of anticipation at seeing Charlotte, Lexi, Sierra, and Shane.
Clearly it had been a low-stress day. Maybe he was catching a cold
or something. Hadn't one of the department secretaries mentioned
that some such virus was going around?
    Shaking off the migraine-induced worry, Will
strode into the kitchen where Sierra let out an excited squeal and
launched herself into his arms. Lexi gave him a quick nod and a
half smile before she bent back over her math book. Shane studied
him with big eyes and a thumb planted firmly in his mouth. As Will
lifted Sierra off the ground, pleased at her greeting, he let his
gaze drift slowly to Charlotte.
    She stood at the stove, her long brown hair
pulled back and tied at the nape of her neck. The thick fringe of
bangs swept across her forehead, and a smudge of flour grazed her
cheek. Will couldn't help but be struck by her beauty.