mom made captain our freshman year.” Liam couldn’t believe Anna had never mentioned it to her daughters. “Her squad won an award for their halftime performance. It was pretty impressive.”
“How would you know that?” Anna’s eyes narrowed. “You never went to any of the football games.”
Liam realized he should have quit while he was behind.
“I...” How to admit this without sounding like a total stalker? “I saw you practice once in a while.”
Once in a while meaning every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, when Liam took a shortcut underneath the bleachers on his way home.
For weeks after he and his brothers moved to Castle Falls, Liam had lived in constant fear that Sunni and Rich would realize they’d made a huge mistake and ship all three of the Kane brothers back to Detroit. Liam would be separated from Brendan and Aiden forever and become a file in some social worker’s drawer.
Watching Anna preside over cheerleading practice had been the one bright spot in a day clouded with uncertainty. Outgoing and confident, Anna had had an unquenchable spark of life in her eyes and a smile bright enough to light up an entire room. The kind that declared I’m ready for whatever was to come.
Only she wasn’t smiling now.
When he’d told the humorous story about Anna’s encounter with the bear cub, Liam hadn’t considered it might resurrect painful memories, as well. The cheerleading award Liam had referred to was displayed in the trophy case, right beside the one Ross received when he’d taken the football team to the state championship.
Way to go, Liam.
Just when he had started to feel like the wall between them was beginning to break down, Liam had reminded Anna what had caused it in the first place.
He pushed out a smile and looked at the twins.
“Ready to climb Eagle Rock?”
A loud whoop answered the question.
Liam led the small procession up the winding, overgrown footpath. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d climbed Eagle Rock...which told him it had been too long.
It would have been a lot easier to use the fire pit on the beach, but if Rene Shapiro wanted the Sunflowers to celebrate God’s creation, Liam couldn’t think of a better place than at the top of Eagle Rock.
“How is everyone doing?” He glanced over his shoulder.
Chloe and Cassie gave him the thumbs-up sign, but Anna didn’t respond to the question at all. Liam couldn’t decide if the climb itself was the problem or if Anna was upset that he’d added at least another hour to the four she had signed up for.
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
