Page 8 of Once Upon a Summer Night

“That sounds like Dad, all right.” Hannah shook her head. “Wow, I’m so glad Chase was there for him.”

“We’re all forever indebted to him,” Aunt Faye answered.

“So, who’s running the station while he’s off?”

Mia grinned. “Chase is. Dad’s been grooming him as his replacement for years.”

Hannah looked to the front windows. Of course, he had. Her father always did like Chase best. It was a good thing she had her own job and opportunities two and a half hours from here. She would never have gotten the chance to move up the chain of command in Bourbon Falls.

It dawned on her then that they’d just given her the perfect excuse to get out of seeing the Wiggmans this weekend, one that didn’t sound like she was avoiding them after receiving that notice of their intent to block her adoption—which, of course, was exactly what she was doing. But hey, who could argue with a family emergency? She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text citing exactly that, and that they would need to reschedule their visit.

Considering their act of treason, Hannah would be in no hurry to do so.

Text sent, she was able to focus on making amends with the others and getting their help developing a strategy to keep Noah. And though she was relieved to not have to face her father just yet, the news of his accident only reminded her that there would come a day when it would be too late to patch things up between them. She prayed they could bury the hatchet between them before that time came.

“Then I’ll try to make it to Warsaw and see him before we head back. Are we okay to stay at the farm this weekend?”

A smile blossomed on her aunt’s face. “You and Noah are welcome to stay at the farm as long as you like.”

“Thank you.” Hannah had no intention of staying here long term, though, and definitely not once her father returned home. “Then why—”

The backdoor slammed open a second time, followed by heavier footsteps. This time, a fit woman wearing a bright green logo’d T-shirt, khaki cargo shorts, and low work boots came into view. Hannah didn’t at first recognize the woman with blonde, pixie-cut hair, but the second the newcomer’s bright-blue eyes zeroed in on her, she knew exactly who it was.

“Hiya, Del.”

Her middle sister’s eyes widened then narrowed. “So, the rumor’s true.”

“Sounds like Mrs. Harper texted you, too, huh?”

“Neighbors gotta look out for one another,” said Del, arms folding across her chest as her gaze shifted to Noah. “Cute kid. He yours?”

Hannah took a tentative step forward. “I’m working on it. Can fill you in later with the others if you like.”

Tension hung in the air between them for another moment before Del dropped the tough sibling act on a sigh. “Why am I always such a sucker for your stories?”

“Because mine are the best?” Hannah asked sheepishly.

“Well, this had better be a good one.” Del pulled her in for a bear hug, eyes closed tightly as she added softly, “And don’t you ever, EVER, leave town again without telling me good-bye. You hear me?”

Hannah nodded; half suffocated by her middle sister.

“Good. Because next time I will track you down and kick your a—, er, butt.”

Behind her, Noah giggled. Del gave Hannah one more smothering squeeze, then released her to go and make introductions with the youngest of their gathering.

“So, what’s your name, kiddo?”

He paused his coloring. “Noah.”

“Nice to meet you, Noah. I’m Del, the cool aunt.” She offered her fist to him, and after a moment, he gave it a small bump with his own. “Oh, yeah, we’re gonna be best buds.”

Hannah’s heart swelled to nearly bursting. She knew they would love Noah, and he was definitely eating up the attention. The poor kid hadn’t smiled this much in months.

This is what they’d been missing out on in Kankakee—a big, loving family to support them. If only she could convince them all to relocate out there and get away from this sleepy little town. Then again, if she could figure out a way to patch things up with her old man, maybe they’d start making occasional trips back here to visit. After all, she’d soon have weekends off for the first time since signing on with the fire department.

If, of course, they offered her the job she’d helped create.

“Delaney, we were just beginning to make dinner plans,” Aunt Faye said. “Does that work for you?”

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