She started out at a light jog, warm up the muscles, enjoy the movement, and the way spring spread its wings with wild dogwoods and redbuds, the pretty beds freshly mulched, the smell of grass newly mowed.

But the thought of the day—the date—weighed on her. She knew it must weigh on Raylan.

She made the turn toward his house, and when she passed Teesha’s, heard Monroe’s music—piano, quick and bright—through windows thrown open to the air.

And heard the mower as Raylan paced with it over his front lawn.

Not as skinny as her memory of the boy, she thought. Solid muscles in those arms now—as she had good reason to know. Still no hat on that sun-washed hair.

And this time, unlike that long-ago time—he saw her. He stopped, switched off the mower. And a moment later, Jasper sent up a plaintive howl from the backyard.

“I’ll just let her back there for a minute, okay?”

“You’d better before the neighbors call the cops.”

She let Sadie through the gate for the canine lovers’ reunion.

When she walked back, Raylan sat on his porch steps, guzzling straight from a bottle of Gatorade. She sat beside him, unclipped her water bottle.

“Saturday chore on a Monday?”

“Couldn’t concentrate on the work, so figured time for physical.”

“Me, too. Yesterday and today. Hard couple of days for both of us.”

“Yeah.” He laid a hand over hers. Joined understanding. “Three years for you yesterday, for me today. I got this bush. A mountain laurel? I’m going to plant it with the kids after school.”

“That sounds like exactly the right thing. Funny, I planted flowers today, in these wonderful Italian pots Nonna loved. And yesterday …” She let out a long breath. “I moved into the master. And that felt right.”

“Time helps,” he said when she turned her hand under his to link fingers. “Lorilee loved visiting the Creek, but it wasn’t home for her. She had such a crap childhood, foster homes, in and out, never really having a home of her own.”

“She told me a little about that. In the letters she wrote,” Adrian explained when he looked over.

“She never talked much about that, not to most people.”

“Writing letters, real letters, is different. There’s this odd intimacy. She told me she never felt she had a real home, until you bought the house in Brooklyn.”

“She fell in love. Forever home, she called it.”

Adrian let the silence hang a moment. “But you’ll plant the mountain laurel for her, here in the Creek, and that matters.”

“Feels like it.” He shifted, to look at her. “And you’re going to have a house full of people later, and a busy week.”

“I’m ready for it. Most of the gang should be here by about three, and we’ll go do a run-through at the school. Back home for dinner and discussion.”

“Yeah, Monroe and I are doing the he-men with kids grilling burgers while that goes on.”

“We can make room for all of you.”

“Thanks, but school night.” He took another swig of Gatorade. “Being the adult, I have to say that, even mean it, which often blows. With luck, the short people will be in bed before you guys finish the main course.”

“We’ll plan a dinner on a non-school night. Or a Sunday dinner—more special—and we can eat early enough to meet school night rules.” At his long look, she shrugged. “What? I like your kids. I like kids.”

“I know it. People think you can fake that, liking kids in general or specific kids. You can’t.”

“We could plan it a week from Sunday, if that works. This weekend—”

“Gym class,” he finished.

“How about we have our Friday night, then a Sunday dinner with the kids?”

“I believe that aligns with our social calendar.”

Friday nights with Adrian had become a habit. Sharing a meal, sharing her bed.

“Don’t cook for Friday. I’ll pick up dinner.”

“I’ll take it. I’ve got to get back.”

When she rose, he rose with her, still holding her hand. And taking the other, leaned in to kiss her.

“Thanks for coming by, helping make a hard couple of days a little easier.”

“For me, too.” She gave his hands a squeeze, then walked around to the gate to call Sadie.

As he went back to the lawn mower, he heard Jasper’s pitiful whine, and Adrian’s laughing promise to bring his girlfriend back soon.

He watched her set off in a smooth run, hair flying, legs flashing.

He thought of the mountain laurel he’d plant with his kids, of the memories that would root in that, the life that would bloom from it.

And he thought, as Monroe’s bright music danced in the air, of the memories and the life yet to come.

CHAPTER TWENTY

The cab—a rare sighting around Traveler’s Creek—pulled up to the house. The unfamiliar sight had Sadie giving one warning woof.

“It’s okay.” Adrian put a hand on Sadie’s head as she looked out the window. “Oh, it’s more than okay! It’s Mimi! Happy,” Adrian added and had Sadie wagging her tail.

She raced out to wrap Mimi in a hug. “You’re here! In a cab! Oh, it’s so good you’re here. My Mimi.”

“Minor change of plans.” Mimi kissed both her cheeks. She took the rolling overnight bag from the driver, thanked him.

“Is that all you have? For a week. Oh, tell me you’re staying for the week.”

“I am. Your mom and Harry have my suitcase, as they’re driving and I decided to take the train because they took an interview in DC. They’ll be here within the hour, but I didn’t want to leave that early, or make the detour.”

“Come in, come inside. I’m going to get you a glass of wine.”

“It’s not even four!”

“Travel days don’t count. Just leave your bag by the steps, we’ll worry about it later. Happy,” Adrian said again, and had Sadie wagging and leaning on Mimi’s legs.

“Is she bigger?” Mimi asked, accepting the paw Sadie offered. “I swear she’s bigger.”

“Maybe a little. Oh, you look so good,” Adrian said as she pulled her through the house to the kitchen.

“I slept on the train. I did not work. I read a book until I fell asleep, and it was great.”

She did look good, Adrian thought, relaxed in her jeans and bold red shirt, her hair a marvelous wedge of curls.

“Sit, take it easy.”

“I’ve been sitting, my baby. My butt knows it.”

“Then we’ll take this wine, walk outside. How’s Issac, how are the kids?”

“Everyone’s good. And so is this wine. Natalie landed a summer internship. In Rome.”

“What? When? Wow!”

“It just came yesterday. She’s out of her mind happy. God, I’m going to miss her, but—” Laughing, Mimi lifted her glass high. “It’s so wonderful for her.”

“It’s amazing. She’ll be amazing.”

“My son, the pre-med student, and now my girl, summering in Rome to work in international finance. I don’t know what either of them are talking about half the time now, but I’m so proud of both of them.”