Page 79 of Serenity Harbor

“Since you’re home early, I hope that means you’re going to dinner at Mom’s place later,” Katrina said.

“Yes. Cade has to work, but I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it, since this might be my last chance to see you before you leave.”

Bowie didn’t need another reminder that his own time with Katrina was limited. Every time the thought popped into his head, it brought along a sense of dread and impending loss.

“By the way,” Wynona went on, “don’t expect the usual quiet family get-together tonight. Charlene apparently decided it wasn’t enough excitement to throw a wedding party for the whole town last week. She’s invited everyone in the Helping Hands over to watch the fireworks at her place.”

Katrina rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the warning.”

Wynona looked around surreptitiously and lowered her voice, though Bowie was close enough he could still hear. “And speaking of warnings, here’s another one. I understand she’s invited several eligible and unattached gentlemen.”

He didn’t miss the way Katrina’s color rose. “Why would she do that?”

“You know why. This is her last chance. Mom’s Hail Mary pass. She’s desperately hoping you’ll fall for somebody and change your mind about the whole adoption thing.”

Katrina’s blush intensified, and he wondered if she was avoiding looking at him out of embarrassment...or something else.

“Are you kidding?” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe that woman. She really thinks I’m flighty enough that I’ll suddenly meet a guy in one night and abandon months of effort and thousands of dollars...not to mention a child who is counting on me? So nice to know my mother has such a high opinion of me.”

Though she spoke in a caustic tone, he saw the shadow of old hurt in her eyes that made him want to pull her close and kiss it away.

“Mom loves you and worries for you. You know she does. I’m settled, Marshall’s settled—or as good as—Elliot is too far away for her to smother. This is just her twisted way of trying to make sure you’re happy.”

“It’s her way of meddling in my life, like she’s been doing all our life. She doesn’t trust me and doesn’t believe I’m capable of making my own decisions. I’m not StupidKat anymore. I haven’t been for a long, long time. Why can’t she see that?”

Again, he wanted to pull her into his arms, but Wyn beat him to it. “She’s our mom. She wants to fix things. It’s what she does.”

“I’m not broken anymore,” Katrina said. “But Charlene still sees me as her poor, pitiful daughter whose brain doesn’t work the way it should.”

“Everyone else knows better,” Wyn said. “So what if she invites the entire Snake River rugby team? She can dangle all the carrots she wants, but that doesn’t mean you have to take a bite out of one. You can be polite and friendly and totally uninterested.”

“Or I can stay home,” she muttered.

“Your choice, honey.” A bell chimed on her watch, and Wyn looked down with a frown. “I have to run. My department has a booth at the fair, and I’m supposed to be there in ten minutes so I can take my turn handing out flyers and answering questions. I hope I see you tonight.”

She hugged Katrina one more time, smiled at Bowie and Milo, then turned and disappeared through the crowd.

“You know,” he said after she walked away, “we could probably see the fireworks just fine from Serenity Harbor. Just the three of us. I promise not to invite any rugby players.”

He knew a few, but he wasn’t at all inclined to introduce them to his...to Katrina.

She sighed, her color still rosy. In the late-morning sunshine, she looked soft and sweet and so lovely he had a tough time looking away.

She scooped up the blanket Milo had been sitting on. “No. I can’t let her scare me away. I have people I care about whom I still want to see. Wyn and Uncle Mike. Marshall and Andie and her kids. I’ll go.” She paused. “You and Milo certainly aren’t obligated, though.”

“Fireworks and rugby players. We wouldn’t want to miss that. Would we, Milo?”

His brother shook his head vigorously. Katrina made a face.

“Fine,” she said. “Just be prepared. You heard Wyn. My mom is getting desperate—and she probably thinks you have home-field advantage, since I’m, you know, living in your house.”

If only that were true, he thought with regret. She didn’t seem to have any trouble rejecting him—as his aching head could still testify.

“What’s next for our day?”

Katrina shrugged. “The possibilities are endless. We could go watch the softball game, or we could go to the tractor pull. Given what a boat fanatic he is, my guess is that Milo would most enjoy the toy boat races.”

“Boat?” Milo said.

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