“Wow!” Joy enthused. “Between the new hires and picking up that madwoman’s clientele, your clinic is going to explode, Neve.”
Marilyn’s forehead furrowed. “Not that it’s any of my business, but can you afford it, honey? I know it’s been a struggle in the past.”
Jeez, had Neve blabbed her troubles toeveryone? Oh, right. This was Fall River. You only needed to blab once, to one person, and the coconutwireless took on a life of its own. It went even faster if you told that one person you were confiding a secret.
Unsure what or how much to say and worried Marilyn was about to offer financial help, Neve exchanged another look with Reece. At least they had the whole silent communication thing down.
He took the lead. “Neve will be fine, Mom. She’s been making it on her own for a long time, and she’s got a financial safety net now that will allow her to grow the business.”
Her heart overflowed with warmth. She owed this man so much, and she was still trying to wrap her head around his limitless generosity, around everything he’d done for her. And he’d done it all quietly, and not for any personal reward coming to him. He’d done it forher. He’d been thinking ofherthe entire time. He had always cared.
Accepting that “safety net” had been hard for Neve to swallow, but then they had struck on the idea of Reece owning part of the business, and that had calmed her prideful, ruffled feathers somewhat. She couldn’t think of a business partner she’d rather have—and he had insisted it was an investment in Fall River. A win-win, he’d said.
“I could always put the money into Dell’s or the Brothel,” he’d teased her. Neve had asked why he didn’t put it in the depot renovation, and he’d confessed that he already had, which had left her more speechless than she already was. Reece Hunnicutt was a silent partner in a myriad of Fall River ventures, which made her fall that much harder for him.
Marilyn winked at her oldest son. “Financial safety net, huh? Well, if you’re going to invest in something, I’m glad to see it’s in your own hometown.” He beamed her a secret smile.
Hugh cleared his throat. “Speaking of hometowns, Reece, when do you leave for Vermont?”
Reece took his time setting down his drink on a coaster before sliding his hands into his front pockets. “I’m not.”
His father’s caterpillar brows crawled to his hairline. “I thought you were all set. What happened?”
Reece began rocking on the balls of his feet. “I told them I’d changed my mind and thanked them for the opportunity.”
Now his father’s brows crowded together.
Neve couldn’t take the tension and rushed in to defend Reece. “He did it because San Juan Search and Rescue offered him the incidentcommander position,” she blurted out. All eyes riveted on her. “They want him really,reallybad, and frankly, we need someone of his caliber right here in our own backyard. I told him he should take it.” Neve hadn’t reallytoldhim, but when he’d shared the offer from Reuben Keyes and she’d seen joy dancing in his eyes that hadn’t been there in a long time, she’d encouraged him to go for it. His father didn’t need to know he’d turned Stowe downbeforethe county’s offer. No one needed to know that detail but Reece and her. One more secret binding them together, and one more reason to be head over heels for him. He had given up a search and rescue dream job to stay in his hometown … with her.
She stole a covert look at Hugh to gauge his reaction, but he was focused on his wife, his expression so tender it nearly brought tears to Neve’s eyes. Beside her, Marilyn sniffled quietly.
Hailey clapped and gave Reece a quick hug. “I’m so happy you’re not going anywhere! And I’m happy for this town!”
Hugh stealthily fetched a tissue and handed it to his wife. “Well, Marilyn, your baby’s staying where he belongs after all,” he said softly. She could only nod, and Neve pulled her against her side in an embrace. Meanwhile, her sons watched her with identical expressions of helpless alarm.
Hugh put up his hands. “It’s okay, boys. Those are happy tears.” He turned his attention solely to Reece, and Neve noted the slight flinch in Reece’s shoulders. She braced for what would come out of his father’s mouth.
But Hugh surprised them all when a smile tipped his lips. “You didn’t belong in Vermont, son. I’m glad you threw a scare into San Juan and made them come to the table.” He tapped his temple with his index finger. “That was a smart maneuver. Good job.” He closed the distance between himself and Reece and shook his son’s hand, seemed to reconsider, and pulled him in for an awkward man hug and a slap on the back.
A relieved laugh tore from Neve’s lungs.
“I propose a toast to more good news.” Charlie held up his glass. “The renovation of the depot.”
“Is this any different from other toasts we’ve made to the same cause?” Reece jabbed.
Charlie bowed. “It sure is. As soon as I’m done with Noah’s renovation at the tavern, we’re moving forward with the depot project. I spoke to LeoCantrell early this morning—he called from his mega yacht in the Caribbean, no less—and he told me the holdouts had caved and were fully on board. In fact, they set next Thanksgiving as a deadline to have the entire project completed. I’m gonna be busy for a while.” He basked in his family’s cheers and whistles.
“I would also like to congratulate my big brother, Reece, for his outstanding rescue of our very own Doc. Frankly, I would have sorely missed Neve’s trash-talking on the ice.”
Marilyn gasped and swiveled her head to Neve. “Youtrash talk?”
“She’s the best at it,” Charlie declared.
“Why do you think I married her?” Reece chortled.
Marilyn leaned in and whispered in Neve’s ear, “You’ll have to teach me.” They giggled together.
“Here’s to Neve and Reece, everybody,” Charlie cheered.
