Page 61 of The Lilac River

And I knew exactly who it would be.

Her.

Lily stepped out, all legs and freckles and that messy ponytail that used to drive me wild. Her white dress was dotted with red hearts, and it nearly knocked me flat. Her skin looked like it had been kissed golden by the sun. Like it always had, no matter what the season. Like she belonged to this land as much as I did.

She opened the back door.

"Hey," I said, trying to sound steady. "How’s she doing?"

Lily straightened and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Hasn’t thrown up since we left school. She’s tired."

I bent down. Bertie blinked up at me, pale as snowmelt.

"Hey, munchkin." I brushed her hair back. "Tummy hurts, huh?"

She nodded, her lip wobbling.

"Let’s get you inside."

Then I spotted it. The booster seat.

My throat tightened. "You got a kid?"

Lily’s eyes widened. "No! It’s from the school office. Emergency seat."

Relief hit me like a kick to the ribs. Stupid, but real.

I stared at her a moment too long. The kind of look that felt like dragging your hand too close to a fire.

"Daddy," Bertie whimpered. "I don’t feel good."

"I know, sweetheart." I unbuckled her, catching the sharp tang of stale vomit. "Bath first, I think."

"Sorry," Lily said softly. "We tried to clean her up as best we could."

"No problem." I lifted Bertie into my arms, holding my breath because I wasnotgood with puke. I was halfway to the steps when Isiah came running, boots kicking up dust.

"Boss! Trouble at the west creek. Empty pesticide containers."

I froze.

"How many?"

"Five. Fresh. Labels peeled."

"That’s bad, right?" Lily asked, instinctively laying a hand on Bertie’s back.

"Real bad," I muttered. "Could contaminate the whole flow."

She hesitated. Then her eyes steeled. "Let me stay with her. Go check it out."

"I—"

"Nash," she said firmly. "She’ll be okay with me. I promise."

I stared at her. The trust. The offer. The softness.

Then I looked down at Bertie, who had already curled against Lily like it was the most natural thing in the world.

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