Page 20 of New Hope

Feeling determined, I turned my attention back to River and nodded. “We’ll make it a night so special they’ll never forget it.” His answering smile matched my own.

The meeting ended a few minutes later and several people took the time to say hello or introduce themselves to me, including River’s friends, Becca and Tamra, who I’d already met while waiting for our kids after school. Everyone was friendly, but it felt a bit awkward being the center of so much attention. Fortunately, I didn’t have to suffer for long because River quickly gathered the girls and ushered us all out the door.

“Thanks,” I said as the door swung shut behind us. The air was chilly, but the sun felt good on my face as we walked to our cars.

He chuckled. “You’re welcome. You seemed little overwhelmed.”

“You can say that again. I don’t like being in the spotlight. Never have. But ever since I moved here, it’s like everyone’s always staring at me and wanting to talk to me.”

River let out a loud, rolling laugh. “That, my friend, is the curse of living in a small town. From here on out, everyone will know all there is to know about you. Did you get a new puppy? Thinking of trading in your car? Receive a mysterious package at the post office? It’s all fair game for the local gossip mill.”

“Oh, God. Is it really that bad?”

He stopped walking as we neared our cars and turned to face me. “Umm…I’m not sure if I should tell you the truth here or lie just to make you feel better.” I groaned which caused him to laugh again. He placed a hand on my shoulder, the touch surprisingly warm, even through my lightweight jacket. “Look, right now, you’re the sexy new police officer who’s raising his little girl on his own. That’s enough to get any gossip-hungry tongue wagging, but eventually, they’ll get to know what a great guy you are and then you’ll be like any other friend.”

I blinked at him, surprised by his description of me. He smiled back as if he hadn’t realized what he’d said. Of course, I was sure he’d probably meant it as a joke, but my brain was having trouble getting over the fact that River thought I was sexy. I opened my mouth but was cut off when Ellie spoke up. It was a good thing too because I had no idea what I’d been about to say.

“Daddy, can Hannah and her daddy have dinner with us? I want to show Hannah my room.” I looked over at her, surprised by the excitement in her voice. We’d done several things with River and Hannah, but this was the first time Ellie had initiated an activity. It was a good sign. I glanced at River who was smiling as well, having noticed the same thing. I gave him a questioning look and he responded with a small nod.

“Yeah, sure they can.”

* * *

The girls raced inside the house as soon as we got home and made a beeline for Ellie’s bedroom. As River trailed in behind me, I did a quick visual sweep of the living room, thankful that I’d taken the time to clean the night before. I watched as he moved around the room, taking everything in. He’d been there once before when he’d picked Ellie and me up for the orchard, but he hadn’t come inside.

“This is such a cute cottage. I used to ride my bike past it when Agnes and Carl still lived here, and I always thought it was adorable. Like something out of a fairy tale.”

I chuckled and his eyes darted over to mine. “Sorry. I’m not laughing at you. I think it’s funny because that was the same thought I had when the realtor first sent me the listing. I came here to see it for the first time, and half expected to find a bunch of mice in here, singing and dancing or something.”

River laughed at that. “Well, I don’t see any mice, but it’s definitely as enchanting inside as it is out. You’ve done a nice job making it your own. I love all the photos of you and Ellie.”

“Thanks. I’m glad we chose this house, this town. It’s a good place to start over which was exactly what we needed.”

“I’m glad too,” he said gently.

I held his gaze for several long seconds, smiling softly. He was a good man, and I was lucky to have him as a friend. “Anyway, I better get some dinner going. I’m sure the girls will be hungry soon.”

“I know you weren’t expecting company. We could order something in, if you want,” River offered as he followed me into the kitchen.

I reached into the fridge and pulled out a package of pork chops. “I don’t mind. I was going to grill these tonight and I have plenty. I always seem to buy too much. You’d think after a year, I’d get used to cooking for two, but somehow, I always end up with way more than we need.”

River rolled his eyes. “I do the same and I’ve been a single dad for eight years. I finally reconciled myself to a lifetime of leftovers.”

I laughed as I reached back into the fridge and grabbed a beer for each of us. River offered to help fix dinner, so I handed him a cutting board and a knife and put him to work cutting vegetables for a salad while I started dicing the potatoes. The conversation flowed easily, and I found myself laughing out loud as he described some of the more colorful residents of the town that I had yet to meet. Like Mr. Winemiller who had over fifteen parrots in his house and had taught them all to cuss, or the elderly Juanita Dixon who liked to strip down to just her underwear and a bra and dance in her driveway whenever it rained.

Tossing the potatoes onto a baking pan, I drizzled them with oil, sprinkled them with seasoning then shoved them into the oven to cook. With that part done, I grabbed my beer and leaned my hip against the counter, facing River. I raised the bottle to my lips, watching him over the rim as he continued to talk. I liked having him there. Without the distractions of work or errands to run, evenings were often lonely with long stretches of silence. Especially once Ellie fell asleep and I was left alone with nothing to do but think, and worry, and remember. But with him there, even the mundane chores like cooking seemed more fun.

Finished with the salad, River offered to check on the girls while I grilled the pork chops. The temperature was a pleasant seventy-two degrees as I stepped outside and I drew in a deep breath, the earthy scent of fallen leaves filling my nose, along with a hint of salty ocean air floating in off the harbor. Not for the first time, I wondered how I’d made it through life without the simple luxury of breathing fresh, clean air. In the city, noise and air pollution were the norm and my view had been one concrete barrier after another. Now, I was surrounded by green grass, colorful trees, and endless stretches of clear blue sky. It was like a bit of Heaven on Earth.

With the meat sizzling on the grill, I settled down in one of the patio chairs. Two squirrels wandered into the back yard, and they chittered to each other as they searched for food on the ground. I watched them until I loaded the cooked chops onto a plate and carried them inside.

I stopped in the doorway of the kitchen, however, taking in the scene. River had both girls helping set the table while he was busy pouring drinks for the four of us. The three of them were in the middle of a conversation and my heart warmed when I heard Ellie chiming in. “Maybe a princess or a butterfly.”

“Oooh! A butterfly would be fun. You could wear big, sparkly wings,” Hannah added.

“What do you want to be, Dr. Adams?” Ellie asked politely.

River glanced over his shoulder at the sound of his name. “A troll,” he answered immediately.

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