The Secrets of Her Past. Emilie Rose

her dry lips, then she checked the buttons on her shirt and smoothed her hair. The strands clung to her damp palms.

      Stop procrastinating, Madison.

      The door opened and Danny Drake stepped out onto the long, covered porch stretching between the front gables. He descended the stairs and came toward her. Save a few more gray hairs, he’d barely changed. He was still tall and lean like Andrew, and his eyes, the same bluish-green as his sons’, crinkled in a smile as he silently lifted his open arms. “Madison, it’s so good to see you.”

      Confused by the familiar welcome when she’d expected hostility, Madison stumbled awkwardly into his embrace. He enfolded her, bringing the memories rushing back. She hadn’t expected this and hadn’t realized how much she’d missed Danny’s bear hugs. Tears stung her eyes and a sob rose in her throat. She gulped down her response and hugged him back.

      “Oooph.” He bowed his back, a grimace of pain pleating his face.

      “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

      “Long and boring story.” Holding her at arm’s length and assessing her, he shook his head. “You’re skin and bones, Maddie.”

      “I finally took up distance running.”

      “Good way to clear the head, but hell on the knees. I had to give it up a couple years back. I’m riding a bike now instead. Guess we won’t be running any races together the way Andrew had wanted.”

      A needle of pain slipped under her skin. “I guess not.”

      During school Madison had been too busy with her studies to accompany Andrew and Danny on their cross-country runs. She’d promised to join them after she graduated. Yet another plan that hadn’t come to fruition.

      Danny searched her face. “It’s good to have you home. I’ve tried to be patient and let you grieve at your own pace. I knew you’d come back when you were ready, but I can’t wait any longer. I need you now, Maddie.” His voice cracked.

      Her brain snagged on Danny’s words. He knew she’d come back? He meant come back to visit, right?

      Danny’s gaze shifted past her shoulder and his eyes widened, then filled with approval. “You’re still driving Andrew’s truck?”

      “Yes.” The pickup was her albatross, a reminder of what she’d had and lost. It was also paid for. Her car had been totaled in the wreck and she hadn’t wanted the burden of car payments. “It’s reliable.”

      Well, most of the time, thanks to Quincey’s genius mechanic and his love for his pack of hunting dogs.

      “Come inside.” He led her toward the house.

      “This is a beautiful place.”

      “Isn’t it? Helen has coffee ready. She suspected you’d be an early bird.”

      At the mention of her mother-in-law, Madison’s stomach resumed churning. Was it a good sign that Helen remembered Madison’s habits? Whenever Madison and Andrew had visited from university, Madison had risen early and driven in the predawn hours while Andrew slept in the passenger seat. They’d always arrived in time for breakfast to allow for a full day with his family, and Helen had never failed to greet them with an elaborate spread.

      After Andrew had finished vet school, moved back to Norcross and joined his father’s practice, Madison had remained near campus and continued the predawn drives, meeting Andrew at the Drakes’ home to begin their weekends together. Funny how it wasn’t until the blinders had been ripped away that she recalled the number of times Andrew had said she could give up the drives anytime she wanted if she moved home with him. But that would have meant quitting school. At the time she’d thought he was teasing, but in actuality, she’d been the living definition of blind and stupid. She quashed the memory.

      Back then excitement over seeing her husband had kept her awake and urged her to start the drive early. This time dread had caused her insomnia. She hadn’t been able to sleep, and at 1:00 a.m. she’d finally given up and decided to be productive rather than toss and turn. Fifteen minutes later she was on the road.

      In the past, anticipation of the feast had made Madison’s mouth water, but today her tongue was as desiccated as a hundred-year-old skeleton.

      Adam waited inside the foyer. Madison’s steps and heart stuttered. Each time she saw him it was like being slapped in the face with her highest and lowest moments simultaneously. “Hello, Adam.”

      “Mom’s in the kitchen.” He strode away without acknowledging her greeting.

      “Ignore his rudeness. He’s not taking my diagnosis well. I suspect his doctor friends have worried him unnecessarily with worst-case scenarios about cancer treatment.” Danny gestured for her to follow Adam.

      The arrogance of Adam taking the lead seemed out of character for the respectful man she’d once known. Andrew had been the irreverent one. But Adam’s attitude was the least of her worries. She fell into step behind him, taking in the way his shoulders and biceps stretched the seams of his polo shirt, and then her eyes drifted down the inverted triangle of his back, across his firm butt and to his thighs. When she realized where she was looking she jerked her gaze upward.

      Her involuntary scrutiny was merely a casual comparison of the differences between him and his lanky twin—Adam had more muscles—that was all.

      The bright, sunny kitchen at the back of the house resembled a spread from a cooking magazine. Golden oak cabinets with glossy gray granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances lined one wall. More cabinetry made up a crescent-shaped center island with barstools separating the kitchen from a large den with a river rock fireplace at the far end. French doors in each room emptied onto a screened-in porch overlooking the water.

      Knowing how much Helen had loved cooking for her family, Madison could see how she’d be happy here, but her mother-in-law didn’t look happy today. She stood by the glass-top stove, spatula in hand. She didn’t relinquish the utensil or make any move in Madison’s direction. Her flat brown eyes and tight, unsmiling mouth held no welcome.

      While Danny barely showed signs of the passage of time, Helen had not aged well. She looked at least fifteen years older.

      Madison forced a smile and felt her parched lips crack. This was the cold reception she’d expected. She wasn’t surprised or disappointed. “Good morning, Helen.”

      The hateful words her mother-in-law had said six years ago hung between them. A dozen tense, silent seconds ticked past.

      “Madison.” Helen hunched her shoulders, turned to the stove and flipped the pancakes.

      Adam shoved a mug of coffee in Madison’s direction. “Have a seat. Cream and sugar are on the table.”

      His barely civil tone brought a chill to the room. Danny pulled out a chair for her. Madison sat and wrapped her icy hands around the hot mug. She sipped and waited for someone to initiate conversation, but the uncomfortable lull stretched. Her pulse banged in her ears. Stalling wasn’t going to get the job done or get her on the road.

      “So, Danny...your wince outside? You said it was a long story...?”

      He shrugged gingerly. “We’re renovating the house. You know how I always need a project. I finally got around to tearing out that old paneling in the den and study like Helen always talked about. I fell off the ladder and cracked a rib. X-rays for that caught the spot on my lung.”

      Anxiety twined through her. “So you’ve not sold your home? Whose place is this?”

      “It’s Adam’s.”

      She scanned the space again, seeing it from a different perspective. The furnishings had cleaner lines than the fussy, cluttered style Helen had preferred, but none of it resembled the oversize leather man-cave furniture Andrew had chosen for the house he’d bought and furnished during Madison’s last year of vet school.

      You cold, selfish bitch. What