Chapter 20

Kelsey POV

The sound of tires crunching over the gravel driveway at exactly nine made my hands pause beneath the running kitchen faucet.

I dried them quickly and moved toward the window. A dark gray pickup truck had stopped beside the porch.

Garrison climbed out wearing faded jeans, heavy work boots, and a forest-green flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms. He carried an old leather toolbox in one hand. Two fishing rods rested in the truck bed beside a cooler.

I stared through the glass. He had apparently prepared for several possible versions of the day.

Behind me, Laura grabbed her coat. “I’m heading into town.”

“So early?”

“I have a few things to handle with the bookstore.”

Her eyes looked tired, and she had barely touched breakfast. “You okay?”

“Just work stress.”

The smile she gave me was convincing enough that I let it go.

Then Liam charged down the hallway carrying three badly cut pieces