Page 9 of Forgiveness River

“Could be worse,” Duncan offered, stirring a third spoonful of sugar into his coffee. Unlike his brothers who’d all gone for the full breakfast, he’d only ordered coffee and a croissant. “Remember when Old Man Jenkins cornered us at the hardware store to discuss his prostate exam?”

“You mean cornered me?” Hank corrected, reaching across to steal a slice of bacon from Wyatt’s plate. “And I still say you could have come to my rescue instead of pretending to get an urgent call and leaving me there for twenty minutes.”

“Time is the greatest teacher of all,” Duncan intoned solemnly, though his blue eyes danced with mischief.

Wyatt slapped at Hank’s hand as he went for a second bacon strip. “Get your own, son. Some of us worked the night shift.”

Colt rolled his eyes. “You can complain when you’ve worked a twenty-four-hour rotation in the ER. Parking up at the resort and sleeping in your cruiser doesn’t count as working the night shift.”

Wyatt narrowed his eyes, ready to launch into an argument with his older brother, but Duncan recognized the signs and cut them off before they could start.

“What about you, Aidan?” Duncan asked. “How’s single life? Women still tripping all over themselves to ask you out?”

Aidan groaned, running a hand through his expertly tousled hair. “That was one festival, three years ago. Will you ever let me live it down?”

“Seven women in one afternoon,” Hank recounted, holding up seven fingers for emphasis. “Plus that tourist from Seattle who followed him around like a puppy.”

“Must be hard to be so pretty,” Wyatt said, grinning at Aidan. He hated being singled out for his looks.

“I was just being polite,” Aidan said, defending himself. “And I only said yes to one coffee date.”

“Which turned into dinner, which turned into you being mysteriously unavailable for Sunday service and family lunch,” Colt added.

“I told you I took her out on the boat,” Aidan said, his face flushing with embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell. “She’d never been on the water before.”

“Uh, huh,” Colt said. “Likely story.”

Wyatt chuckled. “Remember that time at the church social when three different women brought dessert specifically for Aidan. Reverend Jim’s face was priceless.”

“The last O’Hara bachelor,” Hank said. “Mom’s starting to worry you’ll never settle down.”

Aidan’s expression shifted to something more genuine beneath the practiced charm. “Maybe I’m waiting for what you all found.” His gaze moved around the table, touching on each of his married brothers. “I may enjoy attention, but I’m not going to settle for anything less than what each of you has.”

“Careful there,” Colt warned. “You’re starting to sound like a real grown-up.”

“A momentary lapse,” Aidan assured them, instantly reverting to his carefree grin. “I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”

Wyatt sat back, content to let the brotherly ribbing flow around him. This easy camaraderie was something he’d taken for granted before—the casual certainty that no matter what happened, these four men would have his back, would understand him without explanation, would never judge him for the hard choices life sometimes demanded.

“Speaking of settling down,” Duncan said, turning to Wyatt, “How’s Raven? She seemed upset at Mac’s party the other night.”

The mention of Raven’s name sent a familiar ache through Wyatt’s chest. He’d left her sleeping this morning, her dark hair spread across the pillow, her face finally peaceful in slumber after another evening of strained silence and careful distance. How many more mornings would he have the privilege of that sight if he couldn’t find a way to bridge the growing chasm between them?

“She’s busy with the boutique,” he said, the partial truth easier than explaining the complexity of their current situation. “She needs more help in there. She can’t do it all.”

“Maybe you should try your hand as shopkeeper,” Duncan said. “You’d look real pretty in one of those dresses in the window.”

“Shut up,” Wyatt said. “There are limits to husbandly devotion.”

“Remember when Wyatt planned that elaborate scavenger hunt to ask Raven to prom?” Colt said, grinning. “Left all those carefully written clues around town, only to have Mrs. Peterson’s dog dig up the final one and chew it beyond recognition.”

“Poor Raven was so confused,” Wyatt said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half smile.

“Fortunately she’s smart and figured it out,” Duncan added. “She was always willing to go along with your crazy schemes.”

“That woman would do anything for you,” Hank said, nudging Wyatt’s shoulder. “I tried telling her you weren’t worth it and that you leave your socks on the floor, but she married you anyway.”

The words, meant as simple brotherly teasing, struck Wyatt with unexpected force. Would Raven really do anything for him? He didn’t think so. At least not lately.

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