Page 36 of Safe With You

A few minutes later, the front door opened, and Becca entered the kitchen. She greeted them and set her lunch tote on the counter, unzipping it to remove the containers. “Is that Adam’s motorcycle?”

“Yes. He just got back on Thursday. Ethan invited him to join us for supper.”

Becca paused, something like a wince crossing her face before she appeared to shake it off. “I’m going to shower, and then I’ll be back down to help.”

Katie detected an odd tone in her voice, as if she was trying too hard to sound unbothered. Of course, it was none of Katie’s business, so she didn’t mention it to Evelyn after Becca walked away.

Shortly after that, Naomi arrived with the rest of the kids from their little farm just up the road. According to Ethan, they raised chickens and goats, and Naomi homeschooled the kids. Katie imagined having a baby made things interesting, but Naomi seemed like the type of mom who could handle it. A nurturer, like Grandma had been.

However, Charlie shuffled in behind her, a pout on her face.

“What’s that look for?” Evelyn asked her granddaughter.

“Only Marshall got to go fishing. I wanted to go too.”

Naomi shook her head with only a mildly exasperated look. “There will be plenty of time to go fishing all summer. Your dad promised you’d get to go next time.”

Charlie heaved a sigh. “Yeah.”

Katie set aside the knife she was using and bent down by her. “Sometimes boys just like to do boy stuff without girls around. I didn’t get to go either.”

This perked her up. “Do you like to fish?”

“I do. And they’ve probably beaten me by now, but I had the record for the biggest fish when we were kids, even over your dad and Uncle Ethan.”

“Really? How big?”

“A twenty-inch bass.”

Charlie’s eyes rounded. “Whoa.”

Katie grinned. She hadn’t thought about that fish in some time. It had been quite a catch, especially at thirteen. She’d been so proud, especially when Tom told her what an excellent angler she was. Rubbing it in Ethan and Joel’s faces that she was the record holder made it even better. She’d have to ask Evelyn if she still had the pictures of it.

Charlie straightened her shoulders. “Well, someday I’m gonna catch one that big and beat Marshall.”

Katie laughed. She’d had the same competitive spirit against Ethan and Joel. “That sounds like an excellent plan.”

Once Becca rejoined them, they made quick work in the kitchen before heading back outside to wait for the men. Charlie tagged along with Katie and Becca when they gathered firewood to stack by the pit while Evelyn and Naomi set up camp chairs.

Katie had just bent to put the wood down when Charlie announced the boat was back. She straightened to see the Harts’ big pontoon gliding up to the dock. The men had barely secured it before Marshall jumped off, almost tripping due to the large bass in his hands.

“Mom! Look what I caught!” He ran down to the dock, holding the fish aloft. “It’s sixteen inches!”

They gathered around, exclaiming over the fish, though Charlie started moping again. Katie nudged her shoulder and bent down to murmur, “Now you know what you have to beat.”

Charlie grinned mischievously.

Naomi guided Marshall over to a good spot where she and Evelyn could take pictures of him and his fish, and everyone else headed toward the house. Katie fell in beside Ethan and Joel.

“I imagine one of you two beat my bass record.”

Ethan pointed to Joel. “Unfortunately, yes. Joel caught a twenty-three-inch over on Fern. But your record stood for a long time. Eight years, I think.”

“Wow, that is a while.” She turned to Joel. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks, but it’s no big deal. I’m not in it for the competition.”

Ethan eyed him. “Oh, really? So if I go out and catch a twenty-four-inch, it won’t eat at you? Not even a little bit?”

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