Cassie had barely stepped into her aunt’s house when the tension hit her like a brick wall. The air felt heavier than usual, and she didn’t need to see the tight set of her mother’s mouth to know she was in trouble. Her aunt Linda stood in the doorway of the kitchen, arms folded, brows raised. The television was muted, but the news banner still scrolled across the bottom of the screen. Even with the sound off, the image was unmistakable.
Her and Luke.
Cassie in the emerald green dress.
Luke’s hand gently guiding her forward.
She closed the door quietly behind her and gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Hi.”
“Sit,” her mother said.
Cassie sat.
She braced herself.
“You’ve been busy,” her aunt said first, trying to sound casual, but the sarcasm beneath the words was razor-sharp.
