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“You two are so cute,” I said. “I love it.”
Mom smiled. “Just don’t be too careful with your heart. You have to be vulnerable enough to give it to someone. Love is a risk.”
“But one worth taking,” Dad said. “If it’s the right person.”
That was the question, wasn’t it? Who was the right person?
The waitress came with our food and set our plates in front of us. I was glad for the distraction and opportunity to change the topic. Mom seemed happy with her blueberry pancakes and Dad divided up the bacon between them. They started talking about a possible trip to Banff so she could paint, apparently having already forgotten the idea of the family road trip to Yellowstone.
The door opened and three uniformed sheriff’s deputies walked in. One of them was Garrett Haven. I’d known Garrett for most of my life, and, like Luke, he felt like a brother to me.
He met my eyes and tipped his chin. Despite his friendliness—he was a great guy—there was always a remoteness in his eyes. He looked tired. I wondered if it was the pressures of his job or being a single dad. When he’d left his wife a few years ago, everyone who knew him had let out a collective sigh of relief. That marriage had been a train wreck.
But somehow, Garrett didn’t seem happier. He seemed haunted.
As he went to his table, I wondered why all the Haven brothers seemed so darn brotherly to me—except Zachary. Why did he have to be the one to get under my skin?
I went back to my food while my parents chatted. The waitress came back and asked if we wanted more coffee.
“None for us,” Dad said.
I still had my tea, so I shook my head.
“Your boyfriend was in here again the other day,” she said, giving me a knowing look. “He’s quite the looker.”
“Was he?” Mom folded her hands under her chin.
“He’s a handsome one,” she said.
Hearing Preston being referred to as my boyfriend bothered me. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “He’s not really my—”
“You’re a lucky girl,” she said with a smile, not letting me finish, then moved on to her next table.
Mom raised her eyebrows but Dad had concern in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but a commotion near the front caught our attention.
A couple stood talking to Rob Landon, the owner, and the woman raised her voice.
“I’m her mother and I say it needs to come down.”
Rob glanced around, clearly uncomfortable. “Now, Mrs. Thayer, I don’t think there’s any harm in leaving it here.”
“She’s an ungrateful snot, not some tragic missing girl,” Mrs. Thayer said.
“Her parents,” Mom whispered. “Brielle, the girl who went missing.”
“If she wanted attention, she sure got it.” Mrs. Thayer’s voice rose. Her husband stood next to her with his arms crossed and an angry furrow in his brow. “This town needs to stop playing her game.”
The diner had gone silent, all eyes on the Thayers. Garrett stood and walked to the front.
“Oh, look at you, big man in uniform,” she said. “Stop wasting your time. She’ll show up eventually, but this time I ain’t taking her back.”
Mr. Thayer ripped the Missing Persons poster off the window. “We’re taking them down. We’re her parents, we have the right.”
“Go solve a crime or something,” Mrs. Thayer said, glaring at Garrett.
“Why don’t you folks move on.” Garrett’s voice was controlled. “No need to disturb everyone’s breakfast.”
“If you’re looking for her, it should be to arrest her,” Mrs. Thayer said. “Getting a whole town all worked up. Probably ran off with some guy. We all know it.”
