Page 35 of Wood Riddance
Eventually? Parker was intelligent enough to know that was the least comforting thing she could say to me right now. Eventually, we’d know who’d attempted to murder my brother? Unacceptable.
We’d installed cameras all over camp and headquarters, and we’d hired a security consultant to help secure our facilities and equipment. We’d taken every possible precautionary measure.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that the danger had not passed. This was not the time to get complacent.
“Please think about it,” she said, placing her hand on top of mine where it rested on the cool granite top of the island. “We’re all worried about you. Why not go on a couple of dates? Maybe they’ll help you relax. At the very least, they’ll distract you from your new coworker.”
I nodded, though I had no intention of following through. Mostly because it would take a lot more than a few dates to distract me from Finn Hebert.
Chapter10
Finn
The Fourth of July had been the highlight of my summers growing up. This town did it right, with day-long celebrations, a parade, games, and, of course, the obligatory fireworks.
Our small town barely had the budget for it anymore, but somehow, Mayor Lambert always acquired an impressive collection of fireworks. He even hired professionals to set them off from a barge on the river. For a town in dire straits, I thought it was a bit over the top, but I was in the minority.
Nothing got the citizens of Lovewell together like a festival. Everyone would be there, though I very much wanted to skip this particular holiday. The last thing I needed was face time with the entire town.
One more pitying look, one more person who refused to make eye contact, and I’d truly lose it. My sensitivities had heightened further since Merry had confessed to how she was being treated. The knot in my chest tightened every time I looked at her. Especially now. She was glued to my hip as we made our way through the block party on Main Street. We’d come back to our hometown to give her joyful childhood memories, not constant anxiety.
Food vendors and trucks, picnic tables on the green. And music. That was why we had really come by. Jude was playing with Jasper Hawkins, a semi-famous local musician, and his band. They had been asking him for years to join the band officially, but he always refused, choosing instead to play gigs with them here and there.
Merry gave him an enthusiastic wave as he tuned his guitar on stage. He was so talented. Though we all thought he’d make a career with his music, he hadn’t finished his degree. Jude was the outlier of the Hebert family. The quiet, sensitive one who kept his cards close to the vest. The rest of us preferred to yell and fight and work out our problems with axes and tree stumps, but not Jude. When things were tough, he’d retreat into his own little world with his comic books and his guitar.
So despite how difficult things had been, I was happy to see him out and about in town.
String lights hung from the trees where the makeshift dance floor had been built, and all around me, people were hugging one another in greeting and chatting, while children ran wild along the green. Picnic tables had been set up in an open area and were bordered by food trucks. The rest of the town common was filled with games.
Volleyball, gaga ball—which Merry was obsessed with—horseshoes, and a dunk tank that raised money for charity. Despite how much the town had changed from my youth, our Independence Day celebrations remained the same.
Though I didn’t know whether to be sickened or comforted by that, my complicated feelings for my hometown would have to wait.
Merry and I ordered food from one of the trucks and found Alicia and Mike as the band started up. The four of us shared poutine as we listened to the music and chuckled at the kids running wild in the grass.
“Dad,” Merry said, sipping her blueberry soda. “Promise me you won’t ask me to dance.”
Alicia snorted as my cheeks burned. “Why not?”
“Because you always ask me to dance.” She huffed. “But you should be dancing with a lady, not me.”
“You are my lady.”
She patted my hand, her little eyes full of pity. “Sure, Dad.”
“Who would you like Dad to dance with?” Alicia asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I shot her a glower, but in return, she laughed at me and stuck her tongue out.
Merry stood and climbed on top of the picnic bench so she could scan the crowd. It had only grown since we’d arrived. Many people were sitting around tables eating and laughing, and several were already twirling around the dance floor.
“Hmm.” She pursed her lips and tapped her chin, then dropped back down to the bench.
“Couldn’t find anyone good enough for your dad?” Mike asked, throwing his arm around Alicia.
I made a mental note to punch him later if I had the chance.
“Nah,” Merry said. “I was looking for Miss Adele. She’s Daddy’s boss. And she’s so pretty.”
