Morgan lets out a breath.
I shake my head. “Morgan nearly killed herself on that thing. She almost fell down the hill.”
Hudson releases Ava. “Nah, a tree would’ve stopped her fall.”
“Thanks, Hudson.” Morgan tucks wayward hair behind her ears. “That’s comforting.”
Ava pats him on the back, heads over to the chairs, and plops into one. We follow and do the same, leaning our heads back and relaxing in the sun.
Morgan tells them about the jewelers. Her gaze flicks to mine before she omits the part where we kiss. Our little secret, then.
Crossing her ankles, Ava stretches out. “I can’t believe they took your photo! Did you get to keep one?”
“No, I didn’t keep any,” Morgan says.
That’s true.Shedidn’t keep them. She shoved them in the glove box and probably intends to toss them when we get back to town.
“Did you pull it off, or did you break character?” Hudson bounces his knee.
“I think we sold it pretty well.” I rub my jaw. “The lady asked a lot of questions, though. Like how I proposed.”
“What did you say?”
“I told them your story.”
“Nice.” Hudson gives me a fist bump. “And thanks for doing that. I forgot they close at two.”
“No problem.” Lacing her fingers behind her head, Morgan closes her eyes against the bright sun. “So, how was the boating trip?”
Ava taps on the smooth wood armrests. “It was fun but crowded. We just got back and wanted some space.”
“Never thought we’d run into you two up here.” Hudson waggles his eyebrows.
“Hudson, stop bugging them.” Groaning, Ava slaps his arm. “Leave them alone.”
“Fine.” He reaches over to clap me on the shoulder. “Ready to head down for the bocce ball tournament?”
That sounds fun. Morgan squints open one eye. Her head rocking my way, she nods as if giving me permission, but her tired face prompts me to say, “Thanks, but I’ll help Morgan with the lights on the pavilion.”
Her eyes go wide, and after a beat, I tense. Oops.
Ava frowns. “What do you mean?”
Morgan cringes, and her shoulders inch up by her ears. “It’s—part of the surprise?”
“Ava, were you helping Evelyn decorate for the reception? You don’t need to do that. We’re paying her to take care of everything.”
Mouth hanging open, Morgan can’t seem to find her voice. Finally, she squirms. “It’s fine. Evelyn didn’t—”
She doesn’t have to finish the lie because Ava’s phone rings, and she holds up a finger. “Hold that thought.” She slides that finger across the screen. “Hey, Mom.”
“Okay, honey.” Over speakerphone, Fran’s irritating voice is even more grating. “Cat’s out of the bag. Uncle Byron found out and told everybody.”
“Told everybody what?”
“That Evelyn left.”
“Sheleft?” Ava jolts upright, her voice rising an octave. “When?”
