Page 96 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

Her heart shuddered in the anxious pause.

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

The table went quiet. Even the squirrels seemed to stop nattering. Laurel gathered the courage to glance around the table. Then she wished she hadn’t.

Lisa’s mouth hung open. Jeff’s lips pressed together. Avery frowned. Wes looked at her for direction.

Only Cooper was unsurprised. His lips turned up. “Wow. That’s big news.”

“Yes,” Katie blurted. “How wonderful.”

The disparity of reactions between the two announcements was impossible to ignore. Laurel’s throat thickened. They would react this way. Had she really expected anything different?

Gavin leaned his elbows on the table. “I know this is a surprise, but Mallory’s mom petitioned for guardianship, and we think this would be best for Emma. I really hope you guys can get on board.”

Lisa leaned forward. “You don’t have to do this, Gavin.”

“Mom...we’re not doing it because we have to. This is what we want.”

She aimed a laser-focused look his way. “Can we talk in private please?”

“There’s nothing you can you say that will change my mind about this, Mom.”

“But I don’t know if you’ve—”

Jeff set his hand on Lisa’s, then offered Gavin and Laurel a gracious smile. “We’re surprised, of course. But you have our full support.”

“Thank you, Jeff,” Gavin said. “We appreciate it. And again, Avery and Wes, sorry to horn in on your big announcement. But since the hearing is in a couple weeks there’s really no time to—”

“A couple weeks?” Lisa said.

“Honey...”

“Have you thought this through?”

“This is a huge decision.”

“It’s a lifelong commitment.”

“Lisa, honey, sit down.”

“For heaven’s sake, what are they thinking?”

Questions and comments poured in too quickly to respond.

Laurel exchanged a helpless glance with Gavin.

Gavin shot Cooper aHelp!look.

Cooper popped up from the bench. “Hey, everybody, Katie and I are expecting a baby.”

Thirty minutes later, the pandemonium had settled. The family still seemed a little shell-shocked as they cleared the table. Emma rested on Laurel’s shoulder, still groggy from her nap.

“Ready to go?” Gavin asked Laurel after the last dish was carried inside.

“Yes.”

Mom appeared at his side. “Gavin, could I have a word please?”

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