"Fine, abandon us for legal obligations," I say with a dramatic sigh. "But you owe him quality time later. Maybe some grooming. I think his fur is getting matted."
"I'll consider a professional consultation," Mason replies, his deadpan delivery making me want to kiss him senseless. "Perhaps we can find a specialist in synthetic bear maintenance."
"Now you're starting to sound like a true River Bend local. We've got a specialist for everything."
He finishes his coffee and grabs his jacket, pausing at the door to look back at me.
"Maddy?"
"Yeah?"
"Whatever Richard throws at us, we face it side by side. No more trying to do it all alone."
"Together," I agree, and the word carries all the promises of partnership, of two people who've decided to stop running from what they want.
After he leaves, I throw myself into festival planning, locking in with the intensity I save for emergencies. Because that's what this is, an emergency. Richard has turned our celebration into a battle, but he's made one crucial miscalculation.
He doesn't understand what he's trying to destroy.
My phone buzzes around 10:30 with a text from Mason.
Mason
Mrs. Russell called me son and tried to pay me in rhubarb pie. Send help.
Despite everything, I grin.
Me
Rhubarb pie is legal tender in River Bend. Consider yourself officially adopted.
Mason
She also asked if we're planning children soon. Your mom has been spreading the word about our impending wedding. By the way, she offered me two goats and an apple pie recipe last night as your dowry.
I groan audibly, the sound echoing through the empty barn.
Me
My mother's enthusiasm for our relationship has reached legendary proportions, and she's decided sharing her wedding vision across the entire town counts as an appropriate next step.
Two goats and the recipe? She must like you. Tommy Morrison got offered one goat when he proposed in high school, and no pie recipe.
Mason
Tell her we're focused on the festival first. Then maybe a nice engagement. THEN we can discuss your reproductive timeline with the entire town.
Me
Engagement first, you say? Interesting priorities.
My fingers hover over the keyboard.
Mason
Are we at that stage? The stage where engagement isn't a hypothetical future concept but a priority we're considering?
Three weeks ago, I was convinced Mason Kincaid was a corporate robot with excellent taste in office furniture. Now I'm casually discussing our engagement timeline via text message.
