Page 12 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Gavin frowned at the document in his hands. Why would Mike and Mallory have made a divorced couple Emma’s guardians?

He thought back over the timing. Yes, they’d definitely been going through the divorce when Mallory got pregnant with Emma. Mike had told Gavin the happy news after he moved back to Riverbend. They were at the Trailhead, and while Gavin kept his lips lifted in a simulated smile, all he could think about was his own son, gone much too soon.

He shook away the memory. “This makes no sense. We were going through the divorce when she got pregnant with Emma.”

Laurel shifted away. “This is their old will. I’m sure they’ve updated it.”

He did a double take. “Wait. You knew about this?”

Her chin tilted upward, and her lips pursed in a way he used to find adorable. Before the accident. Before the divorce. A lifetime ago.

“We both knew about it, Gavin. When they were pregnant the first time they made us guardians, remember?”

“What? I knew nothing about this.”

She snorted. “Yes, you did. I talked to you about it that one time we ate at the Corner Kitchen.”

He gave his head a shake. Maybe some marble would shake loose and he’d suddenly remember. Nope. “I remember Mallory having the miscarriage, but I have no recollection of that conversation, Laurel.”

Her eyes sparked. “Maybe because all you cared about at the time was the McCafferty job.”

“It was a 3.2-million-dollar build, Laurel. I was under a lot of pressure.”

“That doesn’t matter anymore. I’m telling you that you agreed to guardianship. We both did.”

“And you didn’t think to mention this when you got here?”

“I assumed they would’ve changed it after the divorce.”

He jabbed the document in the air. “Well, apparently they didn’t.”

“That’s not necessarily true. There’s probably an updated version of that will around here somewhere. We just have to find it.”

“You better believe we do.” Because there was no way he and Laurel could co-parent this child.

Over three hours later they’d not only combed through every square inch of the office, but they’d also gone through the kitchen, living room, and bedroom. They were currently searching the couple’s walk-in closet. Being in this space, going through their things, was dredging up memories for Gavin. There was no time to mourn right now. He shoved his feelings to the back burner, which, if he was honest, was already a little crowded.

His throat ached as he replaced the top on a shoebox and set it back on the top shelf.

This wasn’t good. He’d hoped to have this settled before morning. So he could look that child in the eyes and tell her everything would be okay. But how could he promise her that when her future was so unsettled?

He checked his watch. “It’s after one, Laurel.” Even Sunny had checked out of all the excitement and found her spot at the foot of the bed.

Laurel was digging through the contents of a box. “Well, we haven’t found it yet, so we need to keep searching.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “We’ve checked everywhere in the house, and we don’t even know if it actually exists.”

“We haven’t looked in the attic yet.”

“Why would they keep an important document in the attic? Come on. We need to get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day, and Emma will be up early.”

She stopped sorting through the box, her slim shoulders hunching a little. “I guess we could call Darius in the morning if we can track down his cell number. Find out if they updated their will.”

“That’s what I was thinking. If they did revise it, he’ll have a copy.” And what would they do if there wasn’t an updated will? He didn’t even want to say it aloud.

It had been a long day. His best friends were dead, their daughter’s future was uncertain, and he was apparently stuck for the time being with the woman he’d failed in every possible way. “It’s too late to drive back to Asheville tonight. You can have the spare room. I’ll take the couch.”

“No, that’s okay. You can go home. I’ve got this.”

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