Page 68 of Promise

“Well, Dart Rivers. It’s about time I saw you.” Mary Haven says, laying her hand against her chest.

Trin goes over to her mom’s house more than Mary has been to ours since I’ve returned.

The matriarch of the family exits her booth and hugs me so tightly, I nearly stop breathing. Mary gives some of the best hugs, second only to her daughter’s. She’s been the mother I never had, welcoming me into her home, and giving me her blessing to marry Trin.

She’s always been good to me, and I did her wrong.

Her hug says many things, but one of the biggest is acceptance.

The prodigal husband has returned.

“Mary.” I’m stiff at first, overwhelmed by her easy embrace, her forgiveness of sorts. Eventually, I hug her back.

When Mary pulls away, she cups my face. “Come by the house soon.” A clear invitation and indication that I owe her some answers.

She steps over to Trinity next and hugs her before leaning into the stroller to give Mirabelle a bundle of kisses.

“So precious,” she whispers to Mirabelle before standing upright and reentering her booth.

She rattles off a variety of specialty drinks plus her latest bakery creations. Trin and I both order an iced coffee concoction and then argue with Mary about payment. She wants to give us the family-is-free discount. Trinity wants to pay her mother, like any other customer.

“Did you read the book I gave you yet?” Mary asks Trinity. “The one where the couple is DTF.” She winks.

I’ve just taken a drink of cold caffeine goodness and sputter at Mary’s use of a common acronym for Down To Fuck. Coffee sprays everywhere.

“Mom,” Trinity groans, like an embarrassed teen, side-eyeing me.

“What?” Mary says innocently, clutching at non-existent pearls while speaking about fucking. “Did I use that term incorrectly?”

I chuckle, dabbing at the coffee dribble on my T-shirt. “Always a pleasure, Mary.”

“You use that pleasure elsewhere,” she says, nodding toward her daughter.

“Mom!” Trinity shrieks loud enough that Mirabelle jolts in the stroller. Her little lips pout.

“And that’s our cue to move on.”

Trinity sets her drink in a cup holder on the stroller handle before she places both hands on it and pushes it forward.

We walk past another booth or two before Trinity suddenly clutches my wrist. She turns her body toward me, her face drained of color, like she’d like to hide behind me but can’t move because of the stroller.

“What?” I ask, suddenly concerned before following the direction of her gaze.

“I’m so sorry,” she says under her breath, like she’s prefacing something with the apology.

Spencer Reid. What is that fucker doing here? Spencer is one of those guys who thought he was better than everyone in Rogue River. He went off to college like the rest of my friends, and I wasn’t aware he was back in the area. Then again, tons of people return for RiverFest.

Thinking Spencer is stepping toward us to address me, I’m confused when his attention is on Trin.

“Trinity.” His voice is syrupy-smooth while his gaze glides down her body, ignoring the stroller in front of her. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Cocky confidence oozes from this guy with hair slick as a Ken doll. Trinity leans toward me and I instinctively slip my arm around her back.

“Oh, uhm, well, a lot has happened since I saw you last.” She glances down at Mirabelle with a soft smile, but Spencer still doesn’t acknowledge the baby.

“You still owe me that second drink.”

“What?” I snap, unable to contain myself.