“The look on your face, Liam,” Naomi gasped.
Beth fell into another fit of laughter. “SO worth it!”
Liam gave them a mock scowl. “You two are a menace,” he mumbled good-naturedly.
Naomi grinned at him. “But you love me.”
He bent his head to kiss her. “Yeah, I do.”
Her arms crept around his waist, and she leaned into him, her lips softening, shaping to his.
Behind them, Beth giggled. “Get a room, you two.”
Blushing, Naomi dropped her arms, stepping back.
Liam chuckled. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to get used to it, Beth.”
“You’re going to be a highly satisfactory brother-in-law, I can tell.” Beth grinned at them both, then turned to stick her head inside the bedroom door. “So, this is a suite, huh?”
She wandered in, taking a closer look at the bedroom, the large walk-in closet, and the very modern bathroom. Finally she turned to face them, a look of wonder on her face. “I can hardly believe it. And this bedroom set, it’s lovely. You really get to keep it?”
Naomi nodded. “Mmhmm, we do.”
Beth cast a wistful glance around the room. “I do really love it. Although,” she said, turning to face them. “I won’t stay forever, I promise. Just… just until I can get back on my feet. Figure things out. Get a job, and see where my life will go from here.”
That had Liam sobering quickly. “That’s right, we need to talk about that.” He glanced around. “Have we seen everything? Are we good to go?”
“Yes, why?” Naomi asked.
“Let’s let Miranda close the house back up, while we head somewhere to talk some more.”
Naomi wrinkled up her nose as she thought. “You know, when I was reading the brochure for the bed and breakfast, I thought it said something about a lake nearby. I know it’s a little cold for sitting outside, but it’s kind of refreshing, too.”
“We’ve all got sweaters on, and jackets,” Beth observed. “I’m up for it.”
Naomi cheered. “Okay, let’s do it. And if we get cold, we can go back to the inn and warm up on Renee’s hot cocoa and cider.”
“I’ll let Miranda know so she can lock up.”
Shortly after, they were on their way to the park. Naomi stared in surprise as they walked across the ground towards the lake. “I thought ducks and geese flew south for winter.”
“Most, yes,” Liam replied. “But there are plenty who stay year-round.”
“I wish we’d known,” Beth mourned. “We could have brought along some bread or something.”
They made their way to a picnic table near the water’s edge and got comfortable.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Naomi asked Liam.
“First, I guess, Beth? Do you have a car? Did it get put into storage by the Council with the rest of your things?”
She shook her head, looking down at the table, clasping her hands together on its rough surface. “No. I was still in college, working on my Master’s, so I never had enough money to get a car, and really, I didn’t need one. I got around by bus, and Uber sometimes, of course.”
Liam’s brows raised in surprise. “Master’s? In what?”
Beth grimaced a little. “Psychology?”
“Well, I guess that makes sense,” he mused. “Under the circumstances. Did you get your Master’s?”
