“Simon, your break is up.” A heavyset woman with black hair piled on top of her head stepped out of the grocery door. Spotting Jamie and Michael, she grinned and offered a greeting. Her name tag read “Janet.”

“You two look parched,” Janet said. “The air’s real dry here. Not too hot today, but it’ll still drain your fluids. Better pick up some waters.”

Obviously, this was a town where everyone knew everyone else. She and Michael probably stuck out like pigs in an opera.

“We’re headed to eat but probably should put some in the car,” said Michael. Janet followed them in the store. Behind her came Simon in his apron and the two men with sodas. They watched Michael select two bottled waters like they hadn’t seen outsiders in months.

“Sheriff Spencer been by?” Michael asked. He plopped the bottles on the counter, ignoring the scrutiny. Jamie lifted her chin. What was their problem?

Janet lifted a brow at Simon, who spoke as he scanned their bottles. “About twenty minutes ago. Bought coffee.”

“What you needing the sheriff for?” Janet asked. “Everything okay? You just got to town, right? Surely you haven’t run into a problem already.”

Jamie swallowed her laughter. Small towns.

“We’re just looking for someone,” Michael replied.

“Well, you’re standing in the right place.” Janet gestured at herself and the other men. “Between the four of us, we know everyone around here. Who’re you looking for?”

Questioningly, Michael met Jamie’s gaze. She shrugged. Why not?

“Chris Jacobs.”

The four stared at Michael and Jamie and then exchanged glances.

“What? What’s the deal?” Michael folded his arms over his chest. He studied each townie intently, almost hawk-like. Jamie swore she saw his nostrils flare like he was scenting prey.

Janet wrinkled her nose. “What do you want with him? I’ve never seen him even speak to another person. Well, he talks some to old Juan. But that’s it. That boy of his doesn’t seem to ever speak either. Doesn’t even go to school. Delores went out to his house, told him the boy needed to be in school. He said he was homeschooling the boy and meeting the state standards and told her to keep her nose to herself.” Janet let out a huff. “Boy should be in school. Needs socializing, otherwise he’s gonna be a hermit just like his father. There’s more to schooling than books.”

Jamie’s heart cracked. Her nephew. Janet was talking about her nephew. How on earth was Chris raising him?

“What happened to the boy’s mother?” Michael asked.

The question surprised Jamie. Michael had already read what’d happened, but as a reporter, she figured he always wanted to hear what others had to say.

The four townsfolk exchanged looks again.

“Car accident,” Diet Coke man stated.

Michael and Jamie waited in silence for someone to continue. Jamie saw Janet start to open her mouth and then close it.

“Sad business that,” Simon expanded. All four nodded.

Janet fidgeted with her apron, frowning. “She was driving. Alone. Went off the road into a tree. Not a mile from their house. Sheriff said she probably died instantly. Old car didn’t have an airbag.”

Michael’s hawk brows shot together. “What ran her off the road? An animal? She drunk?” The man wasn’t nearly satisfied with Janet’s story.

Janet shrugged. “Who knows? She wasn’t drunk. No alcohol at all in her.”

Jamie grabbed her water. “Let’s go. I’m starved.” She didn’t want to hear gossip. These people obviously weren’t fond of her brother. Any words out of their mouths would be biased. She had a hunch they were about to blame her brother for the car accident.

“Nice to meet you,” Michael said over his shoulder as they headed out the door.

“You too. Sheriff’s probably down at the diner. He usually eats dinner about this time,” Janet called after them.

Jamie power-walked down the sidewalk, and Michael grabbed at her hand. “Slow down,” he said, pulling back on her. “What’s wrong?”

Jamie shook her head. “Those people. They don’t know Chris, but they judge him anyway. That’s how it’s been his entire life. People just look at the outside.”

“Well, sounds like he’s not letting anyone see inside.”

“And that poor little boy. I don’t even know my nephew’s name! No mother. And it sounds like Chris is raising him to be as introverted as he is.”

“Well, at least his dad is spending time with him.”

Jamie stopped and turned to look at Michael. He had a shuttered look on his face. “That’s true. It’s important to have that connection. But the boy needs more in his life. I’m going to talk to Chris about moving back home. Janet has a point. The boy needs to be around other children.”

“Think he’ll be open to that?” Michael’s tone wasn’t optimistic.

“I hope so.” Jamie felt a heavy weight on her heart as they started walking toward the diner. It’d been so hard for Chris to adjust when he came home from the hospital. School became the enemy. No, the children and many of the adults in school had become the enemy. People in general were the enemy because they stared at him and talked about him like he wasn’t right in front of them, hearing every word.

She’d been confused as a child, unable to figure out her big brother’s thoughts. Her big brother was home…but he wasn’t. For two years, she’d prayed for God to send her brother home. He finally did, but Chris was seriously damaged inside and out, and Jamie didn’t understand.