Page 92 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

He shrugged. “They might not like it, but this is our decision. Eventually they’ll get on board. They’ll be a great support system for Emma.”

She took in his steady gaze and fixed expression. “You’re going to have a time of it with your family.”

“Leave them to me.”

She was glad she wasn’t him. Telling her mom wouldn’t be the easiest either, but that would be nothing compared to facing the Robinsons.

He studied her for a long minute, his face softening. Some of the starch left his shoulders. “We have a deal then?”

She tore her gaze away and homed in on the little girl now climbing atop the frog-shaped spring rider. Laurel was about to commit the rest of her life to this child. But watching Emma giggle as she rocked back and forth, Laurel couldn’t bring herself to regret it. What could be more important than giving this child the parents she deserved? The parents Mike and Mallory had wanted her to have? Laurel would leave her hurt and disappointment in the past. Emma was all that mattered.

“All right,” she said. “We have a deal.”

***

Gavin turned into Cooper and Katie’s driveway, still feeling as though someone had filled his head with helium. He was just relieved there was hope of keeping Emma from Darcy’s influence. Nothing more. Even the thought of telling his family couldn’t bring him down today.

Sure, the“business arrangement” talk had been a little off-putting. But they’d made huge strides in just the past two weeks. Imagine what kind of ground they could cover over months? Years? Something inside squirmed at the thought.

But he pushed those feelings away as he shut off his engine and exited the vehicle. Laurel was headed to her mom’s to announce the news. He’d wanted to handle that task together, but as Dariushad pointed out thirty minutes ago, time was of the essence. With the hearing in just thirteen days, they should lay the groundwork as quickly as possible—and that meant getting their families on board.

Speaking of which...

He knocked on Cooper’s door and shifted his feet as he waited, practically buzzing with energy.

A moment later the door opened. “Hey, what brings you by today?” Cooper opened the screen door and ushered Gavin inside.

He stepped into the cozy living room, replete with stuffed sofas, throw pillows, and blooming plants. College GameDay blared from the large-screen TV. “Where’s Katie?”

“She rode her bike to the diner to have breakfast with Avery. Have a seat. Want some coffee?”

Last thing he needed was caffeine. “Nah, that’s all right.” He took the sofa while Cooper lowered himself into the eyesore next to it. “I can’t believe she let you keep that ugly thing.”

“It’s comfortable.” Cooper grabbed the remote and lowered the volume. “I assume you didn’t come by just to watch college football or insult my man chair.”

“I’m here for a favor, actually. But before I get to that... I have some big news.”

Cooper waited him out.

“Laurel and I are petitioning for shared guardianship of Emma.”

His brother’s expression went unchanged. Not a single muscle so much as twitched. Son of a gun had a poker face like a CIA agent.

Still, Gavin knew what he was thinking. “Aren’t you going to say anything?” His tone came out a little combative.

“I’m processing.”

“Well, process this: it’s going to happen no matter what you or anyone else says.”

“What exactly would that look like—shared guardianship?”

“Just like you’d think. Laurel stays in Riverbend and we share custody.”

“That’s a big commitment.”

“Her sociopathic grandmother is going after guardianship, and we can’t let that happen. Joint custody would comply with the terms of the will—both Laurel and I would be raising Emma.”

“I see.”

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