Page 47 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

“That’s right, we’re going to church.”

He and Laurel had had a long discussion about it the night before. It was important for Emma to resume her routines, and church was a big part of that.

Gavin glanced at the traditional clapboard building with the towering white steeple. He and his family had attended here as long as he could remember. Laurel had gone with him when they’d dated and during summers while they were in college.

He glanced at her as she unbuckled her seat belt. “You don’t have to go. I’m sure she’ll be fine. I can handle anything that comes up.” They’d been through this last night, but he wanted to offer her one last chance.

“I’m going.” She unbuckled Emma from her seat and lifted her out. “Let’s go see your friends, angel.”

“Bubbles!”

Laurel glanced at Gavin.

“They have a bubble machine in her class.”

“What fun.” As she exited the cab Gavin thought he heard her murmur, “Can I come with you?”

They made their way across the parking lot. To a stranger they would look like the perfect family heading to church. But they were nothing of the kind. Not anymore.

At the door, cool air and the happy sounds of chatter greeted them. Worship music filtered through the building, and fresh flowers and pine cleaner scented the air. Gavin cut through the foyer, greeting folks briefly as he went.

By the time they reached the children’s hall, tension had stiffened Laurel’s spine. This was basically enemy territory for her. It was a terrible thing to say about a church, but the members didn’t really know Laurel, and they were protective of their own. He wished he could set a hand on her shoulder for support, but she wouldn’t welcome his touch.

This was partially his fault. The Robinsons were a bedrock family in the community, in this church. In the sixties when the town’s silver mine was failing, Jeff’s grandfather had petitioned to have the Appalachian Trail brought through Riverbend Gap, right down Main Street. When the idea was approved, it brought new life to the town. That reason alone endeared the Robinsons to the community.

The family was still heavily involved in the town: Jeff was on the Better Business Bureau board, Avery ran the medical clinic, and Cooper was county sheriff. Their mom participated in the Rotary and Garden Clubs, and she’d pioneered and now spearheaded Trail Days—their annual fall festival that had proven to be a big boon for the local businesses.

Gavin stopped at the sign-in table, now staffed by a very familiarwoman—Mom was also director of the children’s department. The couple in front of them finished signing in and slipped away.

Mom turned her smile to the next in line, and when her gaze fell on Laurel, it faltered.

“Morning, Mom,” Gavin said.

“Good morning.”

He bent over the table to sign in. “Emma’s looking forward to class today.”

Mom beamed at the child. “Good morning, honey. We’re so happy you’re here. The bubble machine is on, and your friends are already playing in your classroom.”

“Pop bubbles,” Emma said.

Mom beamed. “Yes, you can pop the bubbles, sweetheart. You’re going to have so much fun.”

Emma was pretty darned adorable this morning in a denim dress with white sandals. A daisy adorned each of her curly pigtails.

His mom pressed a name tag onto Emma’s back. “She goes to classroom two. Have fun, sweetheart.”

Gavin ushered Laurel in front of him as they headed toward the classroom. They’d worried Emma might balk at leaving them. But when Laurel set her down, the girl toddled right into bubble mania with the other children.

He and Laurel slipped away, trading a look of relief. One hurdle down.

On the way to the sanctuary Gavin greeted more friends and neighbors. He tried to keep the conversations brief, but everyone wanted to know how Emma was doing and what was going on.

While he chatted, Laurel lagged behind him, checking her phone. As much as he wanted to draw her in, she was more comfortable in the background. Especially when the folks here probablystill blamed her for his post-divorce misery. He’d never exactly set them straight on that. In his defense he’d been deeply depressed, and with Laurel all the way in Asheville, people’s opinions hadn’t seemed to matter.

But now, with Laurel at his side and surrounded by his church family, it seemed very relevant. True, this would be her one and only Sunday here, but maybe if he showed he had no hard feelings, she’d be more comfortable returning home to visit her mother.

The sanctuary was filling up. His family had taken their usual pew up front, on the left. Everyone was already there except his mom.

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