Rocks skittered over Liam’s feet as he reached the top of the platform overlooking the river.
His breath caught in his throat, the past momentarily forgotten.
Eagle Rock was more enchanting than he remembered, like an illustration straight from the pages of a fairy tale. A thick carpet of emerald moss covered the ground, and wild grapevine draped the birch trees that circled the sun-drenched clearing.
Cassie scrambled up beside him. And for the first time since they’d launched the canoes, the little girl seemed to be at a loss for words.
It was Chloe who came up with one—a soft, breathless “Wow.”
Liam laughed as he set the cooler on the ground. “My brother Aiden discovered this place when we were kids. He stuck a canoe paddle in the ground and made us write our names on it with a rock.”
And then they’d rowed back home, minus one paddle, terrified Sunni would ground them—or worse—for leaving the other one behind. She had insisted on accompanying them on the return trip the next day. But, instead of retrieving the paddle, Sunni had picked up the rock and scratched her name next to theirs.
Things had been difficult for all of them after Rich died, but it wasn’t until that moment Liam finally began to accept he wasn’t alone.
When they got back, Liam had unlocked Rich’s workshop and spent the next few weeks paging through his foster dad’s notes, studying his designs and slowly figuring out what to do with the strange tools scattered around the room.
Liam had never felt like an outsider in the workshop. For the first time in his life, he’d felt like he was exactly where he belonged.
“Can we write our names on the paddle, too?” Cassie asked.
“I’m not sure I could find it anymore.” Liam scanned the thick hedge of trees. “Everything changes from year to year.”
Anna, who’d been a few seconds behind them, appeared at the top of the path. And, once again, she carefully avoided his eyes.
Okay.
Maybe not everything.
“Isn’t it beautiful here, Mom?” Chloe threw her arms around Anna’s trim waist. “It looks like one of the pictures in the book you’re reading to us.”
“It is beautiful.” Anna’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes as she looked at Liam. “How long do you think it will take to get the fire ready?”
“I’m not sure.” But not nearly as long as it would take Liam to catch the trout he planned to cook on that fire. “Half an hour or so.”
“Oh...” Anna’s teeth sank into the plump curve of her lower lip. “I accidentally left my phone in the van. If something happens at work, the afternoon crew won’t be able to get in touch with me.”
“I have mine. If there’s a true emergency, your employees know where you are. They’ll call Sunni, and she’ll let us know.”
“I suppose.” Anna didn’t look reassured by Liam’s logic. “It’s just... I’m sure you didn’t plan to spend the whole day with us.”
No. He hadn’t. But that didn’t mean Liam wasn’t enjoying himself. Cassie and Chloe were more entertaining than the river otters, and their bright-eyed curiosity reminded Liam of Aiden at that age. And it was nice to see the change in Anna the farther they drifted from civilization. Her slender shoulders had softened into the relaxed pose of someone who’d started to work with the current instead of against it.
She needs a friend.
The thought was too radical to have sprung from Liam’s own mind. He’d been a believer long enough to recognize a divine nudge but still...a friend?
Anna had lived in Castle Falls all her life. She was a respected business owner who served on multiple committees at church and in the community.
Not to mention Liam had tried to be her friend once, and it hadn’t gone so well.
Mom makes jewelry after we go to bed at night.
Chloe’s voice infiltrated Liam’s thoughts.
What was that old saying? Out of the mouths of babes?
He studied Anna’s face and that’s when he saw it. The faint brushstroke of lavender shadows underneath her eyes.
After Rich died, Liam and his brothers had pitched in to help Sunni. They’d taken care of each other.
But who took care of Anna?
Anna’s mother, Nancy, spent the majority of the year in Florida with Anna’s grandmother. And for as long as Liam had lived in Castle Falls, Anna’s father hadn’t been in the picture. For a town with an efficient grapevine, Liam couldn’t even remember anyone mentioning him.
Anna worked long hours, and the muffler of her rust-pocked minivan had a plaintive, rasping cough you could hear a block away.
Another nudge.
This one Liam couldn’t ignore.
All this time he’d assumed Anna didn’t want to spend one minute longer than necessary in his company. But what if she was worried about how much those extra minutes were going to cost? And if she would be the one responsible for paying for them?
“It’s my fault we’re a little off schedule.” Liam strove to keep his tone casual. “If we go over the four hours, consider it a birthday gift from Castle Falls Outfitters.”
The flash of relief in Anna’s eyes told Liam he’d hit the proverbial nail on the head even as she started to protest.
“I can’t let you—”
“Guide,” Liam interrupted, tapping his chest. “Which means you’re stuck here until I decide it’s time to go back.”
The girls, who’d been blatantly eavesdropping on their conversation, exchanged a wide-eyed look.
Liam winked at them. “There’s another fire pit up here, but we’re going to need kindling to get a campfire going. That’s where you two come in.”
“Okay!”
Cassie and Chloe looked so excited Liam had a hunch they would find some way to connect another Sunflower pin to the mission.
“What would you like me to do?” Anna asked.
“Do you see that rock over there?” Liam pointed to a gigantic piece of sun-warmed sandstone embedded in the carpet of moss. “The one that looks like a recliner?”
A smile tugged at the corners of Anna’s lips. “Only Fred Flintstone would look at that and see a recliner.”
“That might be true,” he allowed. “But I want you to go over there, spread out one of those beach towels you brought along and sit down.”
Anna’s russet brows dove together. “Sit down?”
“And relax while the girls and I get a fire going.”
“Relax?”
Liam tamped down a smile. “I’m paraphrasing a little here, but basically the word means ‘take it easy and let someone else do the work for a change.’”
“But—”
“Guide, remember?”
* * *
Liam bent closer, so close