Page 17 of Once Upon a Summer Night

Hannah laughed. “Those poor ducks.”

“It’s good for them,” her aunt replied. “Otherwise, we’re going to end up with a barn full of overweight poultry.”

“If you say so.”

She looked to the pie boxes and tried to drum up the courage to go with Chase to deliver them. Thank goodness her father was staying in Warsaw for a while yet.

“Not gonna lie, I was a little relieved to know Dad wasn’t here. You all, I can face. But him?” Hannah shook her head. She wasn’t sure this house would ever be big enough to hold the two of them again.

“Despite what you may think,” Aunt Faye said softly, “your father missed you terribly.”

Hannah snorted. “I doubt that.”

“I’m with your aunt,” Chase said. “You’ll see.”

She wished she could buy into their optimism, but they hadn’t been here when he’d banished her, hadn’t seen the fire in his eyes. She looked out over the pond at the rain-heavy clouds beginning to form on the horizon. There might not have been any storms in the forecast, but she feared one would soon be brewing in Warsaw.

The sound of tires crunching on gravel drew her gaze toward the road.

“You expecting more company?”

“This is Brooks Farm, Hannah.” Aunt Faye patted her knee. “We have people coming and going all day long.”

Oh, right. She’d forgotten. But was she really ready to see anyone else from town?

Thankfully, it was Mia and Del who soon came walking around the side of the house. They waved, then scrambled out of the way as four large ducks came running across the yard, Noah hot on their trail. Mia watched the pursuit continue, worry on her brow. Del, however, looked entirely amused.

“He knows they’re impossible to catch if you run at ’em, right?” she called as they approached.

Hannah laughed. “He’ll learn soon enough. Where’s Brooklyn?”

“Helping unload the car,” said Mia.

“Oh? Did you guys bring pie, too?”

“Nope,” said Del. “We did hit the grocery store, though. And we brought you all a little surprise.”

Hannah was about to ask what the nearest supermarket was these days when Noah dashed by again, his breathing ragged.

“Get. Back. Here. Ducks!”

Mia laughed this time, clearly no longer worried that either Noah or any of the ducks were getting harmed in the current herding activities. “So, I have good news.”

“Oh?” Faye said. “What is it?”

“Well, it took all morning, but I finally convinced the rehab center that Dad didn’t need to stay there for weeks on end just to make sure he was getting all his exercises done.”

Hannah shifted her gaze to the pond.Please, Lord, just keep him there until Friday.

“That’s wonderful news,” their aunt said. “So, when does your father get to come home?”

Mia’s smile widened. “That’s our surprise.”

Oh no. Please, God, she didn’t.

“We saved you a trip to Warsaw, Hannah.” Mia clasped her hands before her. “Dad’s in the car!”

Ugh, she did.

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