“That Mathew had been married before.”
“I think Rose mentioned it once.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I never met her. They were married before he moved out here. Far as I know, after the divorce, he came here to start over.”
River let out a frustrated groan. “So everyone knew but me.”
His expression hardened again. “Wait. I thought you were upset because she showed up and acted like they were still together. He never told you?”
River looked away.
Emerson muttered something under his breath.
“What?” she asked.
He blew out a breath. “Nothing helpful.”
“No, really. What?”
His jaw flexed. “Let’s just say I’m not feeling especially charitable toward him right now.”
Despite everything, a humorless laugh slipped out of her. Emerson took that as an opening and guided her toward the couch.
“For what it’s worth,” he said, easing her down onto the cushion, “I don’t think they’re still married. I guess anything’s possible if papers got delayed or whatever, but I can’t see Mathew being the kind of guy who’d date you if it wasn’t finished.”
River snorted softly. “That’s a lot of confidence in the guy for someone who was just warning me about him.”
Emerson winced. “Fair.” He crouched in front of her. “I may not be his biggest fan right now, but I don’t think he’d pull something like that. Not on purpose.”
She studied him for a long moment, then sighed. “Yeah. I don’t think he would either.”
“So…” He took both her hands in his and gave them a careful squeeze. “This is more about the fact that he never told you he’d been married—and that you don’t know how long she’s been back in the picture?”
River nodded, wincing. The familiarity between Mathew and Victoria had lodged itself under her skin. The way he’d looked at her. The way he hadn’t immediately stepped away when Victoria touched him.
“What if he’s trying to fix things with her?” The words came out sharper than she intended. “He’s been distracted all week.”
Emerson’s face softened with something like pity, which only made her feel worse.
“He hasn’t said anything about her?”
“Nothing,” she said.
Emerson rose and paced once, rubbing at his jaw. Before he could say what was on his mind, there was a hard knock at the door.
Both of them startled.
River’s eyes widened as they flew to Emerson. “If it’s him, I don’t think I?—”
He held up a hand. “I’ll get it.”
He didn’t make it halfway there before the door opened and Rose stepped inside. Her gaze bounced from Emerson to River, and relief flashed across her face.
“Good. You’re here.”
River pushed to her feet. “Not for long. I think I need to put in my two weeks.”
“What?” Emerson and Rose said at once.
The truth was, River had been considering that long before she’d seen Mathew with Victoria. She’d been getting too attached. To this place, to these people, to the idea that maybe she could build something here. And now? The thought of running into Mathew around town—and feeling this hollow every time she saw him—made her want to crawl out of her own skin.
