Page 59 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

He looked at Laurel for an explanation.

“When the doorbell rang a few minutes ago she thought it was...” Laurel nodded toward the picture of Mike and Mallory.

His face fell and pain flickered in his eyes. He cradled the back of the child’s head. But Emma had already calmed down a bit. She shuddered in his arms and sniffled back tears.

Gavin walked toward the kitchen, nodding at her mom as he passed. “Donna.”

“Gavin,” she replied in herback offtone. Then she quietly addressed Laurel. “I’m sorry my arrival upset her.”

“It’s not your fault.”

In the kitchen Gavin blotted Emma’s face with a tissue and spoke quietly to her.

“I brought tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden. I know you have plenty of casseroles and such, but a growing child needs vegetables.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Gavin carried Emma to the French doors and pointed at something outside as he kept a monologue going.

“It’s hard to hear her cry,” Mom whispered. “But she needs to grieve.”

“I know. It just about tears me up though.”

“You always did have such a soft heart.”

She regarded her mother for a moment. Most people thought Laurel was as tough as nails. One guy in high school had deemed her the ice princess, and it caught on for a while. “You think so?”

“Please. When you were little you tried to rescue every stray animal you found. You cried buckets every time I said no. I finally let you keep one.”

“Scrappy.” She’d been in the fourth grade when she found a burr-covered mutt that had been injured by another animal. The dog wasn’t much to look at, but Laurel loved him anyway. He died a few months after she took him in.

“I knew that dog wasn’t going to make it. Should’ve spared you the pain and just said we couldn’t keep him.”

“Loss is a part of life,” Laurel said automatically. She’d almostforgotten about that hopeful child she’d once been. But all that hope was dangerous. It left a person vulnerable to heartbreak.

Gavin slipped out the French doors with Emma and Sunny followed.

Mom watched them go. “Well, the child certainly seems taken with him. But frankly, I’m surprised he’s stuck around this long.”

“He loves her. And he’s good with her.” He’d been good with Jesse, too, when he’d been around. The boy had loved his daddy. Had imitated the way he stood, walked, and talked. She’d jokingly called him Gavin Junior.

“Just don’t go getting any ideas,” Mom said. “There’s a reason it didn’t work out the first time.”

Laurel was not in the mood for a lecture. “I know that, Mom. I expect Emma’s aunt to call soon and accept guardianship. Then I’ll be heading back to Asheville, and everything can go back to normal.”

Her mom’s expression softened. “I’d like to spend some time with you while you’re here. Maybe Brad and I can have you and Emma over for supper one night this week. He’s very good with children, and I’ll bet she’d adore Tootsie.”

Their little terrier was pretty cute. “We’d like that.”

“You can bring Sunny if you’d like. Tootsie would love it.” Mom grabbed her bag of produce and carried it into the kitchen.

Laurel followed.

“How are they handling your absence at work? This won’t affect your promotion in any way will it?”

“I had the PTO coming, so it’s not a big deal.” She didn’t divulge the rest. If her mom knew what Greg was doing, she’d pressure Laurel to return to work. But Laurel wasn’t leaving Emma. “The tomatoes look good.” Laurel lined them up on the counter, stem side down.

“I used that organic fertilizer you recommended.” Mom glanced out the window.

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