Page 75 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

The relief in her tone set him off. “No, that’s not good. Emma needs familiarity right now. Packing her up and taking her to a whole new place—a city of all things—isn’t exactly ideal, Avery. Plus there’s the orchard. This place meant a lot to the Claytons, you know. The thought of seeing it all go to seed at this point—”

Laurel stood in the doorway, holding two mugs of coffee. That wall he’d been chiseling at for days was back in place. She set one of cups on the dresser and left.

Great. He palmed the back of his neck. Avery was talking about selling the orchard. “Listen, sorry to cut you off, but I have to go. I’m in the middle of something.”

“Oh. All right. I’ll be praying all this gets sorted out.”

“Thanks.” He said good-bye, tapped Disconnect, then left theroom. He found Laurel in the kitchen, taking produce from the fridge.

Best to just dive right in. “I think it’s great that you’d take Emma if Patty ends up backing out.”

“Didn’t sound like it.”

“I know.” Recalling the tone he’d taken on the phone, he winced. “I was reacting to Avery’s attitude. I was upset with her, not you. I think it’s incredibly generous that you’d be willing to raise her.”

She spared him a look as she turned on the faucet and began washing cucumbers.

“I don’t think I could stand to see her shuffled off to strangers. When you said that in the car, about taking her... I can’t tell you how relieved I felt. But I also think... maybe I was a little upset because you’d be taking her away from me. I guess I’ve grown more attached to her than I realized.” Gavin shifted in place. She was so hard to read sometimes. “Are we okay, Laurel?”

After a beat she arched a brow at him. A playful light gleamed in her eyes. “Since when do you spill your guts, Robinson?”

He breathed a laugh. “Guess I’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Better late than never.”

“You just don’t want to get stuck sorting all those nuts and bolts in that box upstairs.”

“You know I hate that part.” He blinked his eyes at her, all innocence.

She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. I’ll be up in a minute.”

“That crib will have to go first.” Laurel leaned against the frame of the nursery’s doorway, cradling her coffee between two hands.Her hair had dried into tousled brown waves, and she looked comfy in a pair of leggings and a white T-shirt that now slid to the side, baring one sexy shoulder. And there was that spot in the cradle of her neck that he used to—

Gavin tore his gaze away.Not your wife anymore.He cleared his throat and turned back to the task at hand. “Crib will have to come apart—it’s not fitting through that door.”

“May as well get to it before she wakes up.” Laurel pulled off the bedding.

Gavin removed the mattress and leaned it against the wall. “What do you think we should do with it?”

“Speaking of not waking her up...” Laurel closed the door. “Does the church still collect baby things for families in need?”

“Yeah, let’s donate it. Mike and Mallory would’ve liked that.” He began taking apart the crib with the screw gun. Of course, if Mike and Mallory were here, they would’ve kept the crib for the next child. They’d planned to have a few.

“I hope Emma takes to the toddler bed,” she said when it got quiet again. “She’s already had so much change.”

“But she can’t keep sleeping in her crib. She might fall and get hurt.”

“I know, I just... You’re right. When she wakes from her nap, we’ll tell her we have a surprise and show her the bed. Let her play in it, maybe read some books to her there so she can get used to the idea.”

“The new Minnie Mouse bedding you picked out will help.”

“Yeah, that might be what saves the day.”

When his phone vibrated, Gavin stopped to check the screen.

Mom.Avery told me Patty is waffling. That poor baby. Praying it all works out for the best.

He replied.Thanks, Mom.

Will Laurel be staying till you hear from her again?

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