Theo nodded. “Delaney. Her dad’s sick. I didn’t even know. I knew something was wrong, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was.”

“My guess is she thought you had enough to deal with. Cleopatra’s recovery and driving to and from the hospital twice a week. You’re Indigo’s guardian now, and you’ve taken on her therapy sessions.”

“You just opened a new law practice,” Ashley added. “And you held a wake for Mina.”

Jude took a drink of his beer. “Not to mention what you and Ashley just went through with these attacks.”

“You’ve had a lot going on,” Trix summed up. “She probably didn’t want to burden you with her own stuff.”

“That’s what friends are supposed to do,” Theo argued. “I would have been there for her.”

“She knows that,” Trix reassured her. She raised an eyebrow. “Now, can we talk about the matching necklaces the two of you are wearing?” Theo reached up and touched her throat. “I don’t like them.”

“We aren’t fans of them, either,” Theo informed her.

“Ashley said you locked the guy in your office.”

Theo nodded at Jude. “After I bashed him in the head with a snow globe I bought in London when I was seventeen.”

“Damn,” Jude said, shaking his head. “If I’m ever attacked, I hope you’re around.”

Theo smiled. “But you have Trix. This beautiful Amazon woman.”

“Yes,” Trix said, “but I don’t own any snow globes.”

“Very funny,” Theo smiled. “Where are guys staying?” She watched as Jordan approached with a cup of eggnog in his hand.

“Mom got my old cabin ready for them,” he said.

“I hadn’t really thought of that,” Theo nodded, “but that’s kinda perfect. Good. How long will you be here?”

“Through the New Year. We’re flying out on the second.”

Jordan sat next to Theo and offered her his drink. She took a sip but didn’t take the cup.

“That’s strong,” she said, scrunching up her face.

“That’s why we’re sharing.”

“You’re pretty sneaky, Ash,” Theo said, squeezing the woman’s good hand.

“It was my turn. And I needed a way to thank you for saving my life.”

Theo’s phone buzzed in her pocket. “You already did that, but I love this gift. I’m incredibly happy with this gift. Thank you.”

She saw that it was Delaney calling and she stood up, moving away from the noise in the room. Ashley and Trix began talking again and Jordan watched as Theo paced in a small circle near the door.

When she disconnected the call, she turned and caught Jordan’s gaze. There were tears in her eyes.

“T.J.,” he said, drawing the other guests’ attention. “What’s wrong?”

The volume in the room died down, but Theo could still hear a strange roar in her ears.

“That was Delaney,” she said, her voice shaking. “She’s in Denver. Her dad just died.”

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

STEVEN, MAYA & SCOTT

This book was a challenge for me. Let’s hope I get that spinal cord stimulator soon. Thanks, as always, for your eternal patience and your constant support.

MY BETA READERS

MaryAnn Schaefer, Lynn Hill, Linda Thompson, Kathy Aden, Janet Richardson, Amber Daniels, Kris Rubi, Edie Knisell, Elaine Sapp, Sharon French, Tina Buck and Cordell Falk

MY READERS

I hope you all enjoy book number five. Come visit again soon!

TINA BUCK

For being so excited that I dedicated this book to you and your dad. ♥

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.C. Wing is a bestselling, multi-genre indie author. She likes to pen family dramas, romantic comedies, thrillers, YA and the occasional limerick. She has written twenty novels, including The Color of Thunder, The Gannon Family Series ("The Skye Books"), the Goddess of Tornado Alley Series and the Whisper Creek Mysteries Series. She is the author of Acquainted with Butterflies, a collection of short stories, personal essays and poetry, and she is a contributing author of the Grey’s Harbor Series.

J.C. publishes under Black Cat Press, her own imprint. Her writing companions are Tara, the golden retriever of absolute happiness and Calvin and Cayenne, the kittens of chaos.

To learn more about J.C. Wing and her books,

please visit her website

or her Amazon author page.

BOOKS BY J.C. WING

The Color of Thunder

THE GANNON FAMILY SERIES

(the “Skye Books”)

Alabama Skye