Page 7 of Once Upon a Summer Night

“And you never age,” Hannah replied. “Did Chase tell you we were here?”

“No, Mrs. Harper sent a text. She was coming out of the hardware store and overheard you talking with a little boy.”

Of course, it had to be old Mrs. Harper, former journalist and forever gossiper. Some things never changed.

“Speaking of which,” Mia said, her gaze shifting to Noah. “Who might this little stud be?”

He looked up from his coloring, color pinking his cheeks. “I’m Noah.”

Mia looked from him to Hannah, a million questions lying just beneath the surface of those stormy blues. But now wasn’t the time to go into all of that, not without Del and her father all here to hear it together.

“Sorry, where are my manners? Noah, this is my oldest sister, Mia. Mia, this is Noah Simmons.”

Mia’s eyes widened for the briefest of moments. It was no surprise that she would remember Beth’s last name—Mia never forgot a thing.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Noah. If I’d known you guys were coming, I would have brought my daughter, Brooklyn, with me. She’s babysitting for Robyn today.” She looked to Hannah. “Can you believe she’s sixteen and driving now?”

“No way, really?”Where had the time gone?

“What time will she be done?” asked Aunt Faye.

“Five.”

“Perfect, then bring her out to the farm,” their aunt said. “We’ve got a family dinner shaping up.”

Hannah grimaced. “I’m not sure that’s such a great idea.”

“Why not?” Mia asked. “We always do family dinners at the farm, you know that.”

“Well, yeah, but…” Hannah looked between the two women and lowered her voice. “You really think Dad will let me be there?”

“Of course, sweetheart,” Aunt Faye said. “Why wouldn’t he? The farm will always be your home.”

Sonofagun, he hadn’t told them. Which meant the rest of the family probably thought staying away had been her choice and her choice alone.Terrific.

Noah looked up, then, his brows scrunched together. “Uh, Hannah? Don’t we have to go see Grandma and Grandpa today?”

“Change of plans, buddy,” she said through a forced smile. “We’re visiting with my family today instead.”And damn, I still need to respond to that text.

Noah made a small fist pump. “Sweet.”

At the dual raised brows happening across from her, Hannah led the grown-ups to a collection of books a short way from the checkout counter.

“Listen, there’s a lot I need to tell you all,” she said softly, trying to stay out of earshot from Noah. “Some of which I’m still struggling to digest myself. But I’d like to do it with Del there, too. And Dad.”

“Unfortunately,” Aunt Faye said, “your father won’t be able to make it.”

Hannah worked not to do a fist pump as well.Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.“Oh, is he working today, too?”

Her aunt and sister exchanged a look before Mia spoke up.

“Actually, Dad got hurt at a big fire last week. Fell and broke his leg. Thankfully, Chase saw him go down and was able to pull him out in time. But the break was an ugly one. He had to have surgery the next day.”

Her father, hurt on the job? How was that even possible? The man was so stubborn she’d grown up believing he was invincible.

“Is he going to be okay?” she asked, cheeks burning with shame over her former thoughts of relief.

“Yes, dear. The surgery went well, and the doctor seems pleased with the outcome. Now, we’re just waiting to see how he does with his rehabilitation and physical therapy. He’s staying at a facility in Warsaw until he can get a little more mobile, where he is in the best of hands. But they did warn us there’s a chance he may have a permanent limp.” Her aunt took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Your father, of course, insists he’ll be back at work in no time.”

---