Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(62)

Knowing that I have to return it, I lock up the building and start driving to the ranch. It’s almost ten and I’m hoping his parents aren’t already asleep. There are Kentucky plates parked in front of the farmhouse. I wipe my eyes one more time before preparing to see the family that I’ve missed so much. I’m not even at the front door before someone is opening it to greet me. It’s Amy, and she’s coming at me with her arms spread. “Tamsyn, oh my goodness it’s so good to see you. Look at your hair. It’s fabulous.”

“It’s good to see you as well. I’m sorry I’ve stayed away. I had finals and…”

“It’s okay. You’re here now and that’s all we care about.”

Even Josh’s dad comes over and hugs me. “We’ve missed you, darlin’.” The second he says it I think of Josh. He’s more like his father than he knows.

“Is Josh around?”

“He’s somewhere on the property. He’s having a tough time lately.” When the man says it the room of people stop talking. All eyes are on me, like it’s my fault.

“Should I go look for him?”

“You can if you want. First you need to eat something. I know you can’t resist my home cooking.”

She’s right, I can’t. “Okay.”

Amy pulls me into the kitchen and sits me down at the large table. She throws a bunch of food on a plate and tosses it in the microwave to reheat. While I wait, I’m greeted by Christian, Addison, and even Cammie. When she hugs me she stops to whisper in my ear. “You need to find that man and knock some sense into him.”

“Why? What’s been going on?”

“He’s withdrawn. He doesn’t talk to any of us. He spends most of his time locked in his room. He’s drinking like a fish.”

“What about Livvy and the pregnancy? I figured he would at least support her.”

Cammie backs away and laughs sarcastically. “Yeah right. They argue all the time. I only hear her side of things, but the phone calls never end cordially. I don’t know how they’re going to work things out for the baby. Whatever you did to him, he’s over that girl.”

I smirk, but keep my opinions to myself. It’s none of my business anymore. I can’t let this affect me. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

She raises her eyebrows and pops a cookie into her mouth. “Wes loved me even when I was having a kid with someone else. He’s raising Maddy as his own. She has his last name and everything.”

“I didn’t know…”

“No one does. She even looks like him. It’s a long story that none of us ever want to hear about. It’s just the point. I know you think you did the right thing for Josh, but sometimes life isn’t meant to be simple. My brother might have screwed up, but his heart has always been in the right place when it comes to you, Tamsyn. He’s smitten, and now he’s a bump on a log. I’ve never seen him this messed up.”

Amy sits a hot plate in front of me. “Cam, Tamsyn didn’t come here to get the third degree. It’s the holidays. Let’s all put our problems to the side and enjoy spending time together, okay?”

Amy sits down with me and folds her hands. I can tell she wants to talk more, but feels obligated to stay out of it. “He still cleans his room,” she mentions. “I figured the moment you left it would go back to the way it was, but it hasn’t.”

It’s the little things that tear at my heartstrings. How am I supposed to get over a man who continues to hold onto hope that we will be together? If she only knew what I have in my pocket to return to him. She’d flip.

I eat my plate of food and clean my plate before peering out the window to see if Josh’s truck is parked out back. Having no luck at the house, I decide to look for him. Promising I’ll come back before I leave, I put my coat on tighter and plan to walk around until I spot him. Knowing Josh, he’s probably hammered in the barn. He likes being able to drink and not have to drive anywhere. Judging from the way he appeared earlier, I’m sure he’s in rare form.

I check the barn first, inside and out. The twins and their wives are playing a game of pool, while Callie and Cob sit on the couch watching a movie. Isabella, Rusty, and her parents are sitting at a table nearby playing cards. “Hey guys, have you seen Josh?”

“Tamsyn. It’s great to see you,” Callie responds while heading in my direction. She kisses me on the cheek and gives me a once over. “I love the hair.”

“Thanks.” Maybe Josh was right.

“Does Josh know you’re here?”

“No. He came by the dealership earlier, but I haven’t heard from him since.”

“Girl, he’s a train wreck. He mopes constantly. I’m worried about him. It’s not like before either. This is a whole new side of Josh.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, as you know we’ve always been close. Before you he’d go through women like they were going out of style. It was his way of staying single and in control. The moment you came into the picture that way of life went bye bye. He fell hard. None of us saw it coming. The past month has been terrible for him. I’ve never seen him so depressed.”

“I hate hearing this. It makes me sad that he can’t move on.”