Page 63 of Harvest Moon (Riverbend 3)

After the first year of their divorce Laurel forbade her mom and Mallory from giving her updates on Gavin or the Robinsons. It hurt too much. “Well, they didn’t, so fill me in.”

After a brief pause the story unfolded. He’d been dating Katie awhile when she’d met Cooper. As Gavin talked his tone didn’t hint of heartbreak, though he must’ve felt betrayed by both Katie and his brother.

“Goodness,” she said when he finished. “I’ll bet that caused an uproar in the family.”

“You have no idea.”

“But there are no hard feelings now?”

“We’re fine. We worked it out. I was never in love with Katie.”

His words hung there suspended in the gap between them. Did that mean Laurel was still the only woman he’d ever loved? And why did that matter so much anyway?

“You never changed your surname,” he said. “I didn’t realize until I saw it in the obituary.”

“I thought about it but...”

“But what?”

She tried to assimilate her thoughts. “Going back to my maiden name would be too much like saying it never happened—our marriage. Jesse. It felt like I’d be saying his life hadn’t mattered. Like he’d never been here at all.”

When he didn’t respond, she said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“It’s okay. I understand what you’re saying. I just... I miss him.”

The raw confession had taken courage. “I do, too, every day. He was so sweet and stubborn.”

“And silly. I miss that silly boy most of all.”

“Those big brown eyes. Gosh, he could work me over with just a look.”

“He knew it too.”

She smiled in the dark. “He did.” She didn’t regret it. Any of it.

Weariness closed over her suddenly, making her aware it was the middle of the night. She gave in to the feeling, closing her eyes. Cool air drifted through the open window, skittering over her skin.

Gavin spoke softly through her haze of fatigue. “Are you happy, Laurel?”

She slitted her eyes open, taking in his dark shadow on the pillow next to hers. “Happy enough.” Then she closed her eyes again, her breaths deepening.

And then there was nothing but quiet.

***

Gavin awakened to a soft sound, but he didn’t bother opening his eyes. He was too sleepy, too comfortable. He hugged his pillow tighter, inhaling a subtle fruity scent that reminded him of Laurel.

At the thought of her, he opened his eyes to dawn’s early light spilling into the room. His gaze fell to the woman he was wrapped around. Her hair stirred with his breaths.

She still slept, facing the other direction, the slight weight of her hand resting on his.

His heart beat so hard the bed quaked beneath him. Last night rushed back. The horrible dream. Laurel waking him. The heavy load of grief and guilt. It had been a long time since he’d had a nightmare like that. The ragged remnants of the dream hadhaunted him, and he couldn’t bear the thought of being alone. He’d asked her to stay—begged, really.

And she had. They’d even talked about Jesse—and it felt good.

Now in the bold light of day he took in their intimate embrace. She hadn’t asked to be groped in the night. But thankfully, she was unaware he was currently wrapped around her like a porch around an old farmhouse.

Slowly—regretfully—he removed his arm from the familiar curve of her waist. Eased away from her while pulling his other arm from beneath her pillow.

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