Page 6 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove

And

Carlisle Hansen

Joyfully Invite You

To Celebrate Their Wedding

Saturday, December 7th,

Four o’clock in the Afternoon

The Teachout Building

Chicago, Illinois

Hunter dragged a hand through his hair and flipped the card over, half expecting some sort of handwritten note with something likeI know I abandoned you and your brothers, but I’m sooooo much happier. Please bring gifts.

He was going to throw up.

His phone rang, pulling his attention away from the invitation long enough to catch his oldest brother’s name flashing across the screen.

“She’s out of her mind if she thinks I’m going to her wedding,” Hunter growled into the phone.

“Wow, and good morning to you too,” Miles said on the other end.

“It was.” Hunter stuffed the mail into his backpack, unable to summon the energy to look at the rest. With his luck, the rest were probably all consecutive jury summons or IRS audit notices. “Until I checked the mail.”

Hunter pushed back through the door, sucking in a breath of cold air as he started back down the hill.

Miles paused. “I think you’re being a little hard on her, Hunt. She’s still our mom.”

Hunter couldn’t help the eye roll. Miles had always been too forgiving for his own good. Together, his brothers could cause a real mess. Evan and Jude found the strays. Miles and Waylen kept them. And Hunter cleaned up the pieces when it was all said and done. Mom was no exception.

He rounded the corner, the docks coming into view. Across the boardwalk, commuters and a nearly non-existent handful of tourists were gathering for the 10:15 ferry. He crossed the street to join them.

Hunter stopped at the docks, out of earshot from the crowd gathering below. “Listen Miles, you can go if you want, but you can count me out.”

His brother’s silence spoke volumes. “Okay.”

Hunter pushed out a breath, trying to force the tension out of the conversation. “How are things out there? Gone on any fancy hippie retreats lately?”

“Oh ha ha. I go on one nature retreat and suddenly I’m a hippie.”

“Your words, not mine!” Hunter chuckled, relaxing just slightly.

“For your information, the adventure tours are going well. I led a kayak group out this morning for the sunrise.”

“Brave kayakers. It’s freezing on Lake Michigan.”

Miles barked a laugh of agreement. “You should come out here sometime.”

Hunter made a face despite knowing his brother couldn’t see it. “Eh, I think I’m still a little jaded toward the Windy City.”

“Still hung up on that stupid contest?” his brother teased. “You know, it’s not the city’s fault.”

“Even so, I’d prefer not to relive my greatest embarrassment every time I come to visit you. You’ll have to come to us. Dad’s been perfecting his smoked ribs for just such an occasion.”

“How is Dad?”

---