Rose crossed the room in quick strides and took River’s hands, just like Emerson had done. “You can’t. Mathew is being an idiot, and Victoria is a liar. They’re not married. He’s been divorced for years.”
Emerson cleared his throat. “He never told her about the marriage. Or the divorce.”
Rose went still. Her grip on River tightened, though not painfully. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She shut her eyes briefly, then opened them again with a look that mixed anger and disappointment. “He’s my cousin, and I love him, but he handled this terribly.”
River couldn’t even laugh. Numbness had settled in hard and heavy. All she knew was that she wanted out, away from the ache of never quite being chosen first.
When was she going to stop feeling like the extra person in everyone else’s story?
“River, you’re not leaving.” Emerson stated it like the decision had already been made and she had no say.
She shot him a look. “You don’t get to make that decision for me.”
“The River I know doesn’t run because she’s scared.”
River smiled, but there wasn’t a trace of warmth in it. “Then maybe you don’t know me as well as you think.”
Rose still hadn’t let go of her hands. “He’s right about one thing—you shouldn’t have to blow up your whole life because Mathew made a selfish, thoughtless mess of this.” Herexpression gentled. “And if you decide you never want to see him again, we’ll make that happen.”
River let out a disbelieving breath. “Oh yeah? How exactly are you planning to manage that? He’s your cousin. He helps out around here. This town is tiny.”
“I’ll tell him not to come here,” Rose said immediately.
The speed of the promise stunned River into silence.
Emerson shifted. “That was easier when your uncle was around,” he pointed out, earning a sharp look from Rose. He lifted a shoulder.
Rose turned back to River. “In town it’ll be harder to avoid him, for sure. But here?” She gave River’s hands another squeeze. “This place is yours too. You shouldn’t have to leave it just because he messed up.”
Emerson stepped closer. “And if he does show up, I’ll be around. I’ll run interference if you want me to. Same goes for town. Groceries, errands, whatever. You don’t have to do any of it alone.”
River looked between them.
Was this because they cared? Because she mattered to them? Or because they just needed their mechanic around…
If she was being honest, it was probably some of both.
But maybe that didn’t cheapen it.
The practical side of her knew leaving would be impulsive. The hurting side wanted to disappear before anyone could hurt her worse.
She loved her job. She loved this town. And even with all the mess, she didn’t really want to go.
The apartment fell quiet as she weighed it all.
No one would force her to stay. If she wanted to leave, she could be packed and gone fast.
Maybe that was why their offer felt so tempting.
She could keep her work. She could keep this strange, fragile sense of belonging she’d found with the Taylors and Emerson. And she would have a safe space for her battered heart to heal.
Not a bad arrangement.
At last, she let out a long breath and gave them both a small nod.
There might be more to the story. Maybe one day she’d want to hear it.
But not tonight.
