“I don’t know what’s gotten into your sister lately,” his mother said. “She used to be so sensible.”
No, Hollis used to do exactly what their mother wanted. She didn’t know what to do with her offspring when they deviated from her perfect plan.
“Hollis is marrying a great guy, Mom, so I think you can trust her decisions.” He pressed a kiss against her cheek. “Just enjoy the day.”
“I’ll do my best, but I still think they should have gotten married at Porter Lakeside—”
“I meant enjoy this one.” Ethan didn’t know whether to be amused or exasperated by his mother’s tenacity. Considering it was a trait she had passed on to both her children, he should probably go with amused.
“I just took a batch of blueberry scones out of the oven.” She pivoted toward the door. “I’ll bring a plate out to the patio if you care to join me.”
Ethan would rather have one of Mrs. Sweet’s cinnamon rolls, but he nodded. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
He walked to the desk and slid the scrapbook back into the drawer.
“Thanks, Dad,” Ethan whispered. “In a few weeks I’ll be starting one of my own.”
“Ethan!”
Ethan shook his head. The scones must be getting cold.
“I’m right here—” He pushed open the French doors leading onto the patio, and the first thing he saw was an enormous black Lab camped underneath the table.
His mother stood a safe distance away, as if she wasn’t sure whether the dog posed a threat to her or the scones. “I can’t get it to leave! Do you have any idea who that animal belongs to?”
Ethan scraped a hand across his jaw to hide a smile. “As a matter of fact, I do.” Thank you, Snap. “I’ll make sure he gets home.”
“I’m going inside.” His mother closed her eyes. “I feel a headache coming on. If you see Hollis, please remind her that we have a list of things to accomplish today.”
“I will.” Ethan clapped. “Let’s go, Snap.”
The Lab zigzagged through the woods as Ethan made his way to Mac’s house. The scent of bacon—so much better than scones—filtered through the screen in Coach’s kitchen window as Ethan rapped on the back door.
A barefoot Mac appeared a moment later. She wore a T-shirt and denim shorts and the same guarded look Ethan had seen on her face when he’d stumbled upon her in the gazebo the day he arrived in Red Leaf.
“I think this belongs to you.”
“Snap.” Mac yanked the door open and the Lab shuffled past her. “He doesn’t usually leave the yard when I let him out in the morning. He didn’t get into any trouble, did he?”
“Are you kidding? He saved me from having to eat a blueberry scone. Now I can sneak into town and buy one of Mrs. Sweet’s cinnamon rolls.”
“Get one for me!” a voice sang out.
Ethan blinked. “Is that Hollis?”
“They came over a little while ago.” Mac’s reluctance was obvious as she ushered him down the hallway and into the kitchen, where his sister and her soon-to-be husband sat at a table in the breakfast nook.
“Well, this explains why Mom couldn’t find you.”
Hollis had the grace to look guilty. “I promised her that I would go through her wedding checklist this afternoon, but Connor and I made a list of our own.”
Ethan glanced at the empty plates. “Starting with breakfast at the neighbor’s?”
“That was an added bonus.” Connor smiled at Mac.
“We want to take the canoe out to Granite Rock this morning, so I asked Mac if she minded interviewing me on the way there,” Hollis explained.
Ethan’s gaze shifted to Mac. “So you’re working from a canoe this morning instead of your office?”
“A reporter has to be flexible.” A smile chased through Mac’s eyes and Ethan realized that was what he wanted to see.
Hmmm. Maybe he’d start a list too.
“Connor has never paddled a canoe,” Hollis whispered, even though her fiancé was sitting right next to her. “He’s a city boy.”
“I’ve never climbed a tree, either, or caught crayfish under the dock,” Connor confessed cheerfully.
“I haven’t been in a canoe for years,” Ethan murmured.
“You should come with us, then.” Hollis rose. “Mac was just telling us that she would see you doing cannonballs off the side of Granite Rock.”
Ethan looked at her with interest. “You did?”
“You can see it from the deck.” Mac collected the empty coffee mugs from the table. She didn’t look at him but Ethan felt a surge of satisfaction when her freckles turned pink.
Check.
“So.” Hollis dipped her paddle into the water as Mac steered the canoe away from the dock. “What do you want to know first?”