Page 65 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

“Right.” After last night’s display she probably wanted to escape him. And that was a shame because they’d just started finding their footing. He didn’t want her running off to Asheville alone—he wanted to spend the day with her.

Huh.

Even after the realization, it took a minute to get up the nerve to make the suggestion. “I could keep Emma if you’d like. Or I could, ah, come along if you wouldn’t mind some company.”

She regarded him from over the rim of her mug. “Don’t you need to work? Check on your new build or something?”

He had planned to swing by the house. The crew would be applying another coat of mud. But they’d seemed perfectly capable. And he’d much rather spend the day with Laurel and Emma. “I can check in later.”

A pretty blush bloomed in her cheeks. “Well... you are going to be the one putting the bed together after all.”

He bit back a smile, playing it cool. “That settles it then. We’ll head for Asheville after breakfast. Didn’t you say your apartment has a pool?”

“You want to take Emma swimming?”

“Emma swim!”

Gavin and Laurel traded a look, then Laurel said, “We’re going swimming at Laurel’s apartment.”

“Princess suit!”

“We will definitely bring your princess suit.”

The forty-five-minute trip to Asheville passed in a rush. Gavin and Laurel kept up a steady flow of conversation. He told her about the house he and Wes were building, and she opened up about work.

Now standing in a fluorescent-lit aisle of an enormous big-box store, Gavin surveyed the many toddler bed options. His son had slept in a toddler bed, but Laurel must’ve picked it out. He didn’teven remember Jesse’s first night in it. What he wouldn’t give now to have been there for those moments. His stomach gave a hard twist. But he pushed the feelings aside.

“This one converts to a table.” He frowned at a complicated design. “I’m not sure why.”

“Maybe we should just get a twin bed with rails. That way she could use it for a while.”

“She seems so small for a twin.”

“Dat one!” From the shopping cart Emma pointed to a pink crib.

“We’re going to get you a big-girl bed,” Laurel told her, then addressed Gavin. “Maybe you’re right, though. She has a long way to go before she outgrows the crib mattress.”

He read the box for a white, wooden-framed bed. “This one seems sturdy, has guardrails, and it’s low to the ground so we wouldn’t have to worry about her falling out.” As ifwewould have to worry about anything for much longer.

“Hmmm. That’s true I guess.” There was a somber note in her voice.

“What’s wrong? Is there another one you like better?”

“No, it’s just... this is such a big milestone for a child.”

He caught on. “And certain people aren’t here for it.”

“I hate this. She would’ve been so proud but also bummed that her baby was growing up.”

“He would’ve called me to help put the bed together, stood back while I did all the work, then acted like he’d done it himself.”

She gave a wistful smile. She was on to him. “They’re going to miss it all: Emma dressing herself, losing her first tooth, learning to ride a bike. It’s so unfair.” She lowered her voice. “Why did this have to happen?”

“I don’t know.” It wasn’t the first time they’d asked that question about the death of a loved one. “Maybe we’ll never understand. Maybe we don’t need to. Maybe we just have to figure out how to go on.”

“That’s a big enough task all on its own.”

“It is.”

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