#Chapter 268: An Unlikely Ally

The ride to Mom’s is tense but quiet. Since marrying Isaac, she’s moved into a nice part of town, with mansions, big back yards, and tall rod-iron fences. Between ever house, it seems like there’s an actual park with benches and trees and flowers. It’s beautiful really, but it doesn’t feel like home. Mom likes it though, so that’s enough for me. Neil pulls the car into the long driveway that curls in a circle in front of the house. Beau parks his motorcycle behind us. I’m surprised he obliged the speed limit the entire way. “We should say hello first, then come out and get the luggage,” Neil says. We all agree. I take Mia from her car seat, then together we all walk up to the house. The brothers stand up straight, making themselves look somehow even more presentable. Then Steven presses the doorbell. Hurried footsteps rush toward the door, and then the door swings inward, opening. Mom smiles as she sees us, her gaze shifting from the brother to me. Yet as soon as she spo