Page 109 of Sunrise & Serenity

“Uh-huh.”

Guilt sits heavily in my stomach. I haven’t told her about Holden and me. I can only hope that when I finally do, she’ll understand it’s because I don’t have answers to the questions I know she’ll ask.

We exit onto the rear lawn, where everybody but River has gathered. They all greet my friends with the relaxed enthusiasm they seem to give most people. And the family is more familiar with Greta than I realized. It turns out that she taught all the McBride brothers, as well as Knox and Riley, though she retired before Taryn came through.

Every time one of these big men calls her Mrs. Nelson, I bite back a smile. I guess some habits are hard to break.

“Drinks, ladies?” Harrison waves us over to a makeshift bar set up with an assortment of beer, a couple of bottles of wine, and what looks like a pitcher of lemonade.

Mia peruses the choices with a hum. “I’ll just have a lemonade, since I’m driving.”

“Nope.” Greta plants her hands on her hips. “I can drive home. You deserve to relax and have a drink for once. Ruby and I can take care of the lemonade, can’t we?”

“We’ll look after it,” the little girl says earnestly.

“Are you sure?” Mia nibbles her lower lip.

“Of course,” Greta says firmly. “Besides, I had a glass of whiskey last night at my book club. I don’t want anyone accusing me of being a lush.” She gives her niece a wink.

Shaking her head, Mia smiles at Harrison. “A glass of white would be lovely, thank you. Just a small one.”

Ruby tugs on Mia’s dress. “What’s a lush, Mommy?”

“It’s someone who knows how to have fun,” a deep voice breaks in from behind us.

I turn, finding River standing a couple of feet away. He’s changed his shirt and either had a quick shower or at least washed his face, his hair wet where it curls around his ears and at his nape.

“River McBride.” Greta shakes her head, her tone affectionate despite her words. “Something tells me you’re still a troublemaker.”

“Mrs. Nelson, don’t you go spreading stories about me in front of these ladies. You know I’ve always been a perfect angel.”

She clicks her tongue. “So impertinent.”

Mia watches the exchange with a bemused tilt to her lips, her brows shooting up when River drops to his haunches in front of Ruby.

“You must be the new vet I’ve heard so much about,” he says.

Ruby giggles, her attention darting up to her mother, then returning to River. “That’s Mommy, silly. I’m not old enough to be a vet.”

River cocks his head, squinting at her. “Really? How old are you?”

“Almost five.”

He rubs his jaw, nodding. “You’re right. I think you have to be at least six to be a vet.”

She breaks out in a bright laugh.

With a dimpled grin, River holds out his hand. “I’m River. What’s your name?”

“Ruby.”

“That’s a very pretty name.”

She blushes, suddenly shy, and turns, burying her face in Mia’s dress.

River straightens to his full height in front of my friend, and I swear there’s a hint of pink on her cheeks as well. “If Ruby isn’t the one here taking care of our animals, that must make you our new vet.” The dimples return, and they’re deeper this time, if possible.

She holds out her hand. “That’s me. Mia Bennett.”