Scout Wilson came in first, Tessa at his side, her presence as steady as ever, even in something like this. Scout gave Grant anod as he passed, eyes already scanning the space like the part of his brain that watched for trouble didn’t know how to shut off.
“Looks good,” he said.
Grant nodded once. “It’ll do.”
Tessa’s gaze moved across the barn, then back to Grant. “You did well.”
That landed.
He didn’t answer.
Luke Hale and Sara Parker came in next, quieter, closer together than they used to be. Sara paused just inside the doorway, taking it all in for a beat.
“This is…” she said.
Luke glanced at her, then at Grant. “Yeah. It is.”
Reid Calloway’s voice carried before he even stepped fully inside.
“Well now,” he said, looking up at the lights, “this is going to be hard to top.”
Eleanor followed him in, her eyes taking in everything with that sharp, quiet awareness that missed nothing.
“This is beautiful,” she said simply.
Burke, moving through the space, caught that and gave a small nod.
Outside, Burton Scott stepped up near the firepit, Maggie beside him. He took in the barn once, slow, thoughtful, like a man measuring more than what he saw.
“Boy did alright,” he said.
Maggie smiled. “He did.”
Inside—
Izzy stayed out of the center.
Not hiding.
Just… waiting.
She stood off to the side near the far end of the barn, the lights catching along her bare shoulders, her glass held loosely in her hand.
She’d chosen that spot on purpose.
With a clear, unobstructed view of the door.
Where Caitlin would walk in.
Burke checked his watch.
Then looked toward the drive.
“Should be here,” he said quietly.
Grant followed his gaze.
Headlights curved up the road.
