He dropped his gaze to the kids and back to her, then he looked over the horizon, past the church, over the green landscape of Washington State trees fed by powerful rivers and a community of good people. What was he doing? Remembering everything that he'd had growing up. Patient conversations. Meaningful moments. He was always with his cousin and extended family and those who made him feel confident and cared for-all similar to how he was raising Bella, just as her mother had.
Noah had already told Teagan his intention for the long term, but not until that moment did he understand the gravity of what that meant-family.
This was his story. Eagle's Ridge was how it all came together, and Lainey and Davis's tragedy wouldn't end there. Exactly the way Lainey would want.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Teagan gathered the kids. Their attention spans had long flittered away, and she held Will and Bella in each hand so they could go for a short walk and leave Noah for a few minutes. Kids were resilient and terribly honest, and she didn't know if they would have questions about life after death or maybe why she and Noah were holding hands.
Over the years, Teagan had advised plenty of parents on this very topic. The question of introducing new relationships to kids was one that had to be handled with care. Adults could easily have many friends. But kids of all ages noticed special friendships and relationships, when they started and if they ended, and how they were handled and how they were communicated best determined how well a child reacted.
She and Noah hadn't said much, but they had been honest.
Still, there might be questions. With Bella, there were always questions or a comment more suited for an adult.
"Why don't we have a Thanksgiving parade?" Will asked.
"Yes, how come? We could have the balloons go down Main Street."
Teagan laughed. She was so focused on serious topics that the wave of relief that washed over her nearly made her woozy as they bantered back and forth about the need for another major Eagle's Ridge community event. "We just had the Halloween parade, you two. I don't think I could handle another extravaganza."
Will tugged on her arm. "You could hold the string so the hot air balloons don't fly away." He swung one way and Bella the other. "And that way Santa would have to come at the end of the parade, and we would all get to talk to him."
Bella froze as though she'd just realized the perfect gift to ask for, her eyes wide and her mouth open, then she jumped in the air with Teagan's hand still knotted to hers. "Yes! We need a parade."
"Don't be silly," Teagan said. "We will see Santa, with or without a parade. You know that."
"But we need to see him now," Bella pleaded as Teagan looped them around and headed back toward Noah. "Let's make it through Thanksgiving before we talk about any other holiday." She squeezed both of their hands and spun them in a circle. "Deal?"
Both kids chimed in with their agreement as Noah strode forward and met them, and Bella took off to jump into his arms.
He tossed her over his shoulder as if she was his Nuts and Bolts bag then ruffled Will's hair. Her son roared, darting ahead, and Noah hooked his arm around her. Such an odd location to find a peaceful moment, but as they walked back toward his dually, Teagan listened to their laughter as the cool breeze lifted her hair, and she knew all was right in her world.
"How about we meet back up for an early dinner?" Noah asked as they pulled out of the church driveway.
"Hey, Mom?" Will mumbled, half talking to Bella also.
"Oh, that's a great idea," Teagan told Noah. "I actually want to try this new dish with butternut squash and pine nuts. If you drop us off at the organic market, I think they'll have everything that I'll need."
"Can I show Bella that game on your phone?" Will followed up.
"We'll wait, or go in with you," Noah said.
"I have to use the restroom. And I'd rather use my bathroom. Can we go there first?" Bella asked. "I have to go very badly."
"Can I show Bella now?" Will asked again.
Teagan fished her phone out of her purse and handed it to Will. Very badly were bathroom code words she didn't like to hear, so she was up for anything to use as a distraction. "Sure. Here." She handed it to Will then faced Noah. "Drop us on the way, and you two go straight home. No biggie. We'll see you soon enough."
"Thank you," Bella said in a very petite, very adult way over the sound of the game in Will's hand. "I appreciate that."
"Sure thing," Teagan said.
Noah smiled. "Then we'll just swing back and pick you up."
"I'll be so fast in the store, you don't need to. The walk and the fresh air?" She shrugged. "We can hoof it, no problem."
They crossed Sentinel Bridge, made their way down the street, and pulled in front of the market. She leaned over and kissed Noah on the cheek, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks as his innocent looking hug gripped her tightly, then she let Will out and they waved goodbye.
It took only a few moments to find the pine nuts and butternut squash and then check out. Walking down the street, swinging the heavy bag between them, Will asked, "Are you sure that you like kissing Noah?"
She blushed, caught off guard by the directness and timing. "I'm sure. I like him a lot. And thank you for checking."
They continued down the block as Will explained fun facts about dung beetles, but she circled back to his kissing question. "Hey, sweet pea. Are you okay that I kissed Noah on the cheek?"
It wasn't the first time she'd asked him that type of question, though maybe she hadn't opened the conversation like that before. But she and Noah had already talked to both kids ad nauseum, just to be sure, though a couple of their follow-ups had been scripted, intentionally indirect and super sly.
"Sure," Will said. "I just want to make sure that you're happy before we do something that we shouldn't."
Be still my heart. She melted into a puddle of mush and dropped to her knees, pulling him into a hug. She couldn't love Will any more for grouping him and her together into a we. All of their conversations had paid off, and he understood that she'd move forward with a relationship only if he was on board.
A million factors were in play, and all of them revolved around him. But that he referenced we, as though they were the ones pulling the strings for the relationship with Noah, really hit her in the feels. "You make me so proud. Thanks for looking out for your mama."
She stood up and let him wriggle away, changing the conversation back to dung beetles and mealworms. Will trotted ahead, and she floated for the rest of the walk home.
They came onto their block and arrived at their house. He waited impatiently as she searched for her keys, and once the door was unlocked, Will burst inside and Teagan stepped in, dropping her grocery bag and purse while kicking off her shoes. She glided into the front hall on cloud nine, pausing at an unfamiliar stench of … dirt and tobacco.
"Who're you?" Will's surprised voice faintly called from the hallway upstairs.
And Teagan's blood ran cold.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
"Will!" Teagan rushed up the stairs. "Will!" she sputtered, tripping over herself to pull her son behind her as she stared at the end of the hallway. "Spencer? What are you doing in here?"
"Spencer?" Will repeated, now more curious than scared. He knew his father's name. He peeked around her. "Is that-"
"Hold on." She pushed Will behind her, backing them both against the wall as two other men stepped out of the hallway bathroom. They stank of cigarettes and sweat, along with something else. A fine dust tickled her nose, tinged with the scent of home repairs, and Teagan studied one man who was covered in white dust. "Will, go downstairs." She walked them along the wall, hanging onto Will. "Go next door and play with-"
Voices and boots coming from her kitchen stopped her cold.
At the base of the stairs, a new man stopped midstep as he saw her at the top of the landing.
"Who are these guys?" Will's whisper shook because even a five-year-old could sense evil.
"They're just friends of a friend," she said lightly, turning back to Spencer. "My old friend stopped by with his friends."
Her light tone did nothing to ease the aggressive nature of the men surrounding them, and she silently pleaded with Spencer.
"Why are they here?" Will pushed.
"Spence?" Teagan bugged her eyes.
"Looking for something?" a man with a cigarette tucked behind his ear offered.
"Right." Teagan swallowed against her dry throat. "I'd be happy to help. Could we do this in a less invasive manner?"
He shook his head.
Spencer didn't give so much as a long look at Will, who tugged her shirt. "Is that my dad?"