Page 38 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Emma grabbed her arm. “Read book!”

“We already read three books. It’s night-night time now.”

“Princess book! Pease!” The tears wobbling in Emma’s eyes made Laurel ease back against the rocking chair. It was so hard to know what to do. Sticking to the child’s routine was good for her, but Laurel had to allow for grief. Didn’t she?

“One more book.” Laurel winced because she’d said that last time.

She opened the book and began reading. Despite the long day and short nap, Emma seemed determined to stay awake. After Gavin had left for his family gathering, Laurel kept her busy to distract her from the fact that everyone else was gone.

Even so, Emma kept asking about her grandparents and Gavin. She asked about her parents, too, and Laurel repeated the words she’d said before. By suppertime Emma was irritable, refusing to eat even the foods she normally loved. Laurel had finally let herfill up on blueberries. Mallory had been diligent about feeding the child a healthy, balanced diet, but one night without protein wouldn’t kill her.

“Gabin home soon?”

Laurel stopped reading midsentence. “Yes, honey, he’ll be home soon.” She continued the story, making it through three more pages before Emma interrupted again.

“Want Gabin,” she whined.

“I know you do, angel. He’ll be home soon.” Was the child worried he wouldn’t come home at all? After all, her parents had probably told her they’d be home soon too.

Sorrow compressed Laurel’s chest. How was Emma to trust anything at this point? Her parents had disappeared without warning.

God, are You there? Help her. Comfort her. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what I’m doing.

When Laurel was almost to the end of the book, she heard the faint sound of an approaching car engine. A minute later the door downstairs clicked shut. Laurel pulled out her phone and shot Gavin a text.Can you come to Emma’s room?

A moment later the stairs squeaked, then Emma’s door opened quietly.

Gavin’s face softened at the sight of the child in Laurel’s arms. “Hi, Emma Bear. Is Laurel reading you a bedtime story?”

Emma bolted upright and held her arms out to Gavin. “Gabin read!”

His gaze darted to Laurel and when she nodded he said, “Of course I’ll read to you.” He stepped forward and lifted the child into his arms, then switched places with Laurel. “What have we got here? The princess book—my favorite. Rapunzel is so smart.”

Emma settled into his arms with her floppy bunny, and Gavin began reading in that soft, steady voice he reserved for the girl. Laurel had a feeling Emma would fall asleep to the sound of his voice, and the feeling brought a pang of relief.

While Gavin finished putting Emma to bed, Laurel went downstairs, loaded the dishwasher, and cleaned the kitchen. She wished she could wipe away the image of Gavin reading to Emma as easily as she wiped up the mess under the high chair. She couldn’t help but recall the gentle way he’d had with Jesse. The way he gazed at his child, lips curling into a tender smile as the boy slept. Yes, he’d worked too much—but he was a good dad. The man had the patience of Job. Never lost his temper. Laurel wished she could say the same.

Now that their marriage was in her rearview mirror she saw a lot of things more clearly. She understood why he’d worked so much. He’d been trying to provide her the sense of security she craved. Trying to prove he was a better man than his dad—a notion that had never been in question for Laurel. But for a man with an alcoholic, deadbeat dad? Yeah, it made sense.

She gave the thoughts a resolute shove from her mind. Emma wasn’t Jesse, and Laurel and Gavin were no longer married. They might be sharing a house at the moment, sharing parental duties, but emotionally they were on opposite sides of the world.

She had to admit he was doing his part, though. Surprisingly, he hadn’t run from the responsibility even when she’d tried to let him off the hook. He’d even picked up the slack with household chores. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who’d changed over the past few years.

Laurel set the rag in the sink and headed to the office to tackle some tasks she’d been putting off. She would save a copy of Mikeand Mallory’s will onto a flash drive. Aunt Patty would need a copy eventually. After that, Laurel would see what she could find related to the upcoming apple harvest. Some of the fruit was ready to come off the trees.

She grabbed the will, stuck a flash drive into the port, and opened the copier lid. A document was already on the printer, facedown. She picked it up, her heart stuttering as she read the first line.

***

Gavin laid the toddler in the crib, then gently eased away, hoping she wouldn’t stir. Emma’s body relaxed, arms winging out to the side, tiny hands closed. Her chest rose and fell beneath her Minnie Mouse sleeper. Her delicate lashes fanned out against her upper cheeks, a mere shadow in the dim light.

Sweet dreams, Emma Bear.

He treaded quietly from the room and pulled her door closed behind him. He’d read four books before Emma finally dozed off. Laurel preferred they put her down awake as Mallory had done, but everything in him wanted to make Emma’s life as easy as possible. She already had so much to contend with.

Gavin considered going straight to the spare room. But Laurel had finally broken her silent treatment with that text, and he should probably build on that. It would just be the two of them for a few more days, and they had to communicate—for Emma’s sake at the very least.

As he descended the stairs his thoughts went back to his family’s warnings about his living situation. He agreed it wasn’t ideal. He just didn’t have a better solution.

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