CHAPTER 224

“Same as last time.”

“I’ll go get settled in. Is Pa up in his bedroom?” His parents hadn’t shared a bed for years—a fact they were both mighty proud of—a fact he couldn’t fathom since he shared his bed with both Chassie and Edgard in recent days.

“He can’t climb stairs yet so he’s set up in the den,” Lianna said. “And he’s sleepin’ right now. I ain’t about to let you just bull your way in there and wake him up. The man had a heart attack. He needs his rest.”

Just then a cowbell clanked from the vicinity of the den.

Everyone froze.

“Can’t anyone hear this goddamn bell?” the old man yelled and proceeded to ring the cowbell as if the den had morphed into his own personal bell tower.

“Jesus. I hate that cowbell and it’s your fault for givin’ it to him, Lianna,” his mother snapped and stalked toward the mad ringing.

Trevor didn’t jab Lianna for her lie. Instead, he started up the stairs.

In the bedroom at the end of the hall, he tossed his bag on the floor next to the old wooden rocking ho