June strolled into the room, her yellow dress fluttering around her legs. Her hair was styled and light makeup accented the flecks of blue in her eyes.
“Protect me, Aunt June.”
Wade leaped behind his aunt and used her as a shield. It only increased Megan’s laughter. Her brother towered over the older woman by three heads.
Megan raised her ice cube. “Come here and take it like a man.”
“Stop that, both of you.” June scowled, although it held no heat. Her lips twitched. “You’re acting like a pair of six-year-olds. And Megan, if you get water on me and ruin my hairstyle, I’ll be furious.”
Wade’s grin broadened, and he did a victory dance. Megan dumped her ice cube in the sink and, once her aunt had moved out of the way, sprayed cold flecks of water in her brother’s face. He scooped her up for a bear hug and she squealed again.
The doorbell rang.
“Put me down, you oaf, and finish putting the ice in the lemonade.” Megan kissed her brother’s cheek before he released her. “I’ll get the door. It’s probably Luke.”
“Thank goodness. I can’t wait for him to fire up the grill. I’m starving.”
Megan half ran to the door. She paused when the light reflected off her engagement ring and took a heartbeat to admire it. Luke had reset the original solitaire diamond in a new setting, and it was the perfect representation of their relationship. A foundation of friendship and love refreshed into something stronger and even more beautiful.
She turned the handle and swung open the door. Nancy and Hank greeted her with broad smiles.
“Come in, come in.” She stepped back. “Hank, would you like any help with those?”
“No, darlin’, I’ve got it.” He adjusted the grocery sacks in his hand. “Just point me in the way of the kitchen.”
“Go on straight back. It’s where the old one used to be.”
In the redesign and rebuilding of June’s house, she’d kept most of the old floor plan. There were some major improvements, like a spacious living room and an up-to-date office, but it retained the cozy quality that made it home.
Megan turned in time to see Luke strolling up the walkway. He was handsome in his cowboy hat and boots. She ran down the porch steps to greet him, and he caught her in his arms. Her heart soared as their lips met.
“Hello, wife.” Luke brushed his lips against hers again. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
He’d been working for the past week on a serious case in a nearby county. It was the first separation since their wedding and honeymoon two months ago, but it wouldn’t be the last. Luke’s job as a Texas Ranger occasionally called him away, but his work was important and Megan was happy to support him.
“This place looks amazing.” Luke’s gaze drifted over the front porch and the flowerbed filled with sunflowers. “I love what you’ve done with the landscaping.”
“Wait till you see the inside.”
She tugged on his hand. Nancy already had a glass of pink lemonade and was getting a grand tour from June. Hank and Wade trailed behind the women.
“Gorgeous.” Nancy craned her head, taking in the high ceilings. “Every room is stunning.”
“Wade had a big hand in it.” Megan’s chest swelled with pride. “He was here every day, working alongside the contractors, to ensure the house was built to June’s specifications.”
“I couldn’t have asked for a better foreman,” June said, wrapping her arm around Wade’s waist.
He beamed. “Construction suits me. I’ve got another project starting up next week.”
Megan said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. Having her family together, and happy, brought her constant joy.
The oven buzzer rang and June grabbed a pot holder. “That must be my quiche.”
Luke leaned over and whispered, “Your aunt made a quiche?”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing. “It’s your mother’s fault. She read all those cookbooks and talked about recipes while June was in the coma. It seems to have rubbed off.”
The two women had their heads together, staring down at the quiche and talking. Wade and Hank disappeared to grab some extra chairs from the back of his truck.
“Want to take a quick walk with me before everyone arrives?” Megan asked. Her stomach was jittery and her hands went clammy. She let out a breath and willed herself to act normal. “The quick phone calls we’ve had the past week haven’t been enough.”
“I know. Let’s go.”
They ducked out the back door. The air was warm and balmy, the lingering rays of sunlight casting pretty shadows through the trees. In the distance, Cinnamon grazed. Luke took her hand, interlocking their fingers together, as they strolled across the yard.
“How’s your case going?” he asked. “Any progress?”
“Some.” Megan had kept her law partnership with Grace and expanded by opening a second office in Cardin. Business was better than ever. “How about you?”
“Caught the bad guys.” He grinned. “That makes for a good day. I stopped at the post office to pick up our mail and ran into Brent. He sends his regards.”
“How does he like being the chief deputy?”
“It suits him. Sheriff Franklin was smart to extend the position. I suspect he’s only delayed his retirement long enough to prepare Brent to take his place.”
Thanks to his bullet proof vest, Sheriff Franklin had survived being shot by Heath. He’d stayed on as sheriff and, along with the state police, cleared his department of corruption. Dan, Heath, and Kyle were all sentenced to prison, although Kyle received a lighter sentence for cooperating with the district attorney.
“Hey, I don’t know if I told you, but my dad is coming tonight,” Luke said.
Over the last eight months, Luke and his father had built a fledgling relationship. Time, Patrick’s sobriety, and a lot of prayer had gone a long way to healing their wounds.
“That’s great.” She kept her pace easy, even though all she wanted to do was sprint across the yard to the hay bales leaning against the barn. “Karen Dickerson is coming tonight too. She and June have become
