But it wasn't.
After all, this wasn't the first time Willow had spent the night away from home. And yet, itwasthe first time I'd wandered through the house like a mental patient, looking for signs of someone who wasn't there.
And that someone wasn't my little sister.
It wasn't the person on my doorstep either. I gave Arden a long, cold look. "Where's Brody?"
Uninvited, she stomped past me, saying, "Home."
I turned to follow her movements. "And Willow?"
Over her shoulder, she said, "The same."
I felt my jaw clench. It was Christmas Eve. A couple of hours ago, Brody had texted me asking if I'd be home around two o'clock. I'd assumed he wanted to drop off Willow. Instead, he'd set me up for an ambush.
Asshole.
As I watched, Arden stomped deeper into the house, calling out, "I brought cookies, not that you deserve them."
I shut the front door and strode after her.I hadn't seen any cookies.
As if reading my mind, she said, "They're in a baggie. I put them in my pocket so they'd get nice and crushed." She paused. "I hope."
"So that's why you're here?" I said. "To bring me crushed cookies?"
"Oh, please," she said. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't be bringing cookies at all. No. They're from Willow. We made them yesterday."
Willow had grown up without a mom – and without any aunts or grandmothers either. If I were in the mood to be reasonable, I might admit that it was nice that Arden took such an interest.
And she made great cookies.I knew, because every once in a while, Brody brought some into the office.
I'd even tried a few.You know, for politeness.
Arden stopped in the main living area and sank back into my favorite armchair. She motioned to the chair across from her and said, "Sit."
I ran a multi-billion-dollar company. I'd practically raised my brothers, and Willow, too, while I was at it. I wasn't accustomed to being ordered around, and didn't appreciate it now.
I gave her a hard look. "No."
"Fine," she said. "Then you can stand there while I tell you what I just learned."
I didn't like the way that sounded. "It's not about Cami, is it?" My stomach clenched. "Is she alright?"
"I'll get to that," Arden said.
Screw that."No. Tell me now."
Arden rolled her eyes. "Well she's not dead in a ditch if that's what you're wondering."
The image alone was enough to make my blood run cold. "So she's alright?"
"Yes," Arden said. "Just like she was an hour ago when you called Brody to check on her."
I stiffened. "That's not why I called."
"It was, too, and you know it." She made a scoffing sound. "Oh sure, you pretended like you were checking for Willow's sake. But we all know."
"You knowwhat?"
