Page 261

She rolls her eyes, though the smile pulling at her mouth takes most of the sting out of it.

I settle our things onto an open patch of grass, already feeling her amusement aimed in my direction. Experience has taught her that questioning my preparedness only leads to evidence supporting it.

Lucy vanishes into the crowd within minutes of arriving.

I keep catching glimpses of her in completely different corners of the square. One minute she's helping June arrange boxes of candy behind a folding table. The next she's carrying popcorn bags for Marco with the confidence of an employee who expects a pay check. By the time I spot her beside the stage, holding a microphone stand while Owen fiddles with cables, I've stopped trying to figure out how she gets from place to place so quickly.

Maggie follows my gaze and shakes her head. "She gets that from you."

Laurel's head snaps around. "Absolutely not."

"Oh, please." Maggie folds her arms. "You were six years old and somehow convinced half the neighborhood to help you build a treehouse."

"I was organizing a community project."

"You stole my bike and appointed yourself foreman."

"I returned the bike."

"Three days later."

Laurel turns to me. "She's rewriting history."

Maggie grins. "The jury remains divided."

Watching them together makes the family resemblance impossible to miss. They share the same stubborn streak and the same look they get whenever they're convinced they're right. Lucy carries both traits with enough extra enthusiasm to power a small city.

The movie doesn't start for another half hour, which leaves plenty of time for everyone in town to wander around catching up.

Unfortunately, Redwood Run approaches personal business the way most people approach weather reports.

Lorna appears beside our blanket carrying a cup of hot chocolate.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" she asks Laurel.

Laurel still hesitates whenever someone brings up the baby in casual conversation. "Good," she says. "Really good."

"That's wonderful." Lorna beams at her. "You let me know if you need anything."

Before Laurel can answer, Lorna spots someone across the square and heads off in that direction.

Her departure creates an opening.

Another person steps into it almost immediately.

Then another.

A few minutes later, a retired fisherman offers pregnancy advice based entirely on raising five sons. After him, Mrs. Bennett shares a story involving twins, three goats, and a delivery room that somehow ends with everyone surviving. I lose track after that.

Laurel eventually drops onto the blanket beside me and lets out a long breath. "You know what I've learned tonight?"

"What's that?"

She gestures toward the crowd. "I think every single person here knows everything about everyone."

"That sounds right."

"I should hate that."