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“Everyone loved your grandparents, and we’re happy to see you boys keeping the family ghosts company.”
“I was hoping my cousin had tamed them by now.”
“The last I heard, your dearly departed relatives had the upper hand.”
Linc ran his hand over his jaw. “Guess that’s going to make my stay all the more interesting.” He looked around. “Do you have any kombucha that’s cold?”
“Of course.” Elaine stepped away from the lunch counter and pointed toward the back. “The cooler is along the back wall.”
“Thanks, Elaine.”
“Bad boy; bad boy; bad boy.”
Linc walked over to the cage. “Takes one to know one.”
“Go away. Go away.”
Linc chuckled and strode toward the back of the store, hearing Elaine reprimand the bird. Feeling more confident about his decision to visit, he decided that some time in Haven was just what he needed.
An hour later, he looked out the third-floor window of the Hawker homestead and watched his cousin’s pretty girlfriend stroll down the road. Clearly, all the family gossip about Zane pursuing a solitary life wasn’t up to date since he had a woman who was not only a beauty but charming as all get out.
Hearing his cousin’s booming voice, he walked away from the window and decided he was more than ready to take his hard-won mental health out for a test drive and see how it did in the real world.
“Where you at, cousin?” Zane bellowed from the foyer.
He strolled out of the room and descended the stairs. “Family gossip suggested you were going with a recluse thing.” Linc planted his feet at the bottom landing and crossed his arms. “But I have to call bullshit because you’ve got a cute girlfriend and a dog that won’t leave your side.”
“If I told you this wasn’t my plan, would you believe me?”
“Of course, since good fortune is pure serendipity.” He lifted his arm and checked his watch. “Do we have time for a beer before we’re expected at Chateau Bennett for supper?”
“Absolutely.”
He followed Zane and his dog into the kitchen and studied his cousin. “You don’t look as bad as I thought you would.”
“Appreciate it.” Zane dropped himself into a chair and handed over a bottle. “I never heard how your departure from the Navy went.”
“A hell of a lot better than Asher’s if gossip is to be believed.” Linc lifted the bottle to his mouth and took a gulp. “A decade as a boat guy was everything I could’ve hoped for—high risk, high adventure, and lots of good done.”
“I heard you pulled Colt’s team out of a dicey situation a couple of times.”
“Sure did.” He threw Zane a wink. “Not that I’m talking about it, though.”
“The baby of the family is always the most talkative and the one with the least fear.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Linc shook his head. “Worry not; your brother has found his home on the Teams and is making a name for himself, just like Rorke did.”
“Wouldn’t expect less.”
“And how’s your transition going?”
Zane hitched his shoulder. “Not as much of a catastrophe as you’d expect.”
“Guessing that pretty lady from down the lane is helping.”
“Not sure about that.” Zane ran his hand over his neck. “It sure is testing me, though.”
“As all good things do.” Linc tipped back in his chair. “God isn’t going to give you the good stuff unless he or she is sure you can handle it.”
