AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Silence settled around the table. Cooper glanced from person to person, reading a mixture of pity and resistance.
He homed in on his mom. “When she was little her mom chose drugs over her and her brother. Kate’s lived with that rejection, absorbed it into every cell of her being. But she came here all alone to Riverbend, and we welcomed her into this family. She felt a connection with us—with you especially, Mom. And now she’s been rejected again, and I just don’t—” The words died in his throat.
He couldn’t bear the thought of what that rejection was doing to his bright, hopeful Kate. She loved her job, loved her little house, this town, and this family. How hopeless she must be feeling to give it all up.
Avery leaned forward, planting her elbows on the table. “I think we need to hear from you, Gavin. You’re the one who’s been hurt here.”
All eyes swung his direction. He shifted under their attention. “I don’t know what to say. Everything Cooper said is true—she’s pretty much alone. And I regret how I’ve treated her the past few weeks. I’ve run into her a few times in town and I’ve... I’ve kinda snubbed her.”
“Nobody can blame you for being angry,” Jeff said.
“I’m pretty sure my actions have affected the way others intown feel about her. She made a mistake, but she doesn’t deserve to be an outcast.”
“I’ve been awful at the clinic,” Avery said. “I haven’t treated her like a friend should, and I have a lot of regrets. I don’t want to lose her—at the clinic or as a friend.”
Hope welled up in Cooper like an underground spring. “Did you tell her that?”
“I did. But it didn’t change her mind about leaving.”
“Who’s to say anything will?” Gavin asked. “Maybe she’s determined to leave.”
“I don’t believe that,” Cooper said. “She loves you guys. Loves her life here in Riverbend. And if you accepted her, the rest of town would too. This family pulls a lot of weight around here—you know that’s true.” His mother had been uncharacteristically quiet. “Mom?”
Her gaze fell to the table. “A couple weeks ago she wrote us a letter, apologizing for her part in the whole mess. But I was still angry, and I told myself it would be disloyal to Gavin to respond. But I saw her yesterday at Trail Days. She was watching me from afar, and the regret and longing on her face was... palpable.”
Mom blinked away tears as she gave Gavin a pained look. “I’ve felt just terrible ever since. I really do love that girl. I’m sorry, Gavin. I didn’t mean to, but I do.”
Warmth flooded Cooper. There was the Lisa Robinson he knew and loved. The tightness in his chest gave way, and he smiled at his mom.
Gavin put his hand over Mom’s. “Do what you need to do, Mom. I’m not going to stand in your way.”
Cooper joined Jeff at the kitchen sink where he scrubbed a dinner plate. Cooper grabbed a towel and began drying.
Gavin had returned to the campground, and his mom and Avery went to the campaign office to make final corrections on the speeches—both acceptance and concession. Cooper would join them in a while to go over the final versions and do a few practice runs.
“Don’t you have better things to do tonight?” Jeff asked.
“I’ll get to it later. Mom hates dirty dishes in the sink.”
“Don’t I know it.” They worked in silence for a minute before Jeff spoke again. “How are you doing with your father coming back to town?”
Cooper had already caught them up. “I’m fine. He was just a pawn in Wayne’s game. But Lonnie dropped the charges, so I’m sure he already went back to wherever he came from and is doing whatever he does.”
“I’m sorry.” Compassion filled Jeff’s expression. “Katie’s not the only one who deserves better, you know.”
“Thanks. But I’ve become acutely aware that I’m pretty darned fortunate in the family department. Maybe Dad abandoned us, but God turned it into a blessing. He brought you and Avery into our lives—and I can only be thankful for that.”
Jeff gave him a sidelong smile. “The blessing goes both ways, Coop. Your mom is the love of my life. And you and Gavin? The sons I never had. I couldn’t love you more.”
“Love you, too, man.” Cooper grabbed the dirty Crock-Pot off the counter and handed it to Jeff. “You think Mom will go see Kate tomorrow?”
“If she doesn’t, I don’t know your mother. You think it’ll change Katie’s mind about leaving?”
“I don’t know but I had to try. I couldn’t just let her leave thinking... thinking nobody cared about her.”
Jeff went to work on the Crock-Pot. “Know what I think is interesting? It’s the eve of the election and instead of being out there pressing flesh, you’re over here fighting for Katie.”
Cooper took pains drying the plate. “I just want what’s best for her. She deserves more than what she’s gotten.”
