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She abruptly turned to him and held a finger to her mouth, then pointed to the nest.

Archer’s mouth fell open, followed by Rhonda who joined him at the side of the boat. The three of them remained quiet, watching as the family settled into the nest. Rhonda snapped a picture with her phone, a big fat smile on her face.

Eventually Archer let down the ladder and silently helped Tea into the boat. He wrapped a towel around her and kissed her wet lips. “You did it.”

She tilted her head. “Did what?”

“All of it.”

They sat down on the back bench as Rhonda slowly puttered the boat away from the loon nest. He kissed her again, and the feel of his arms and his lips made her stomach flip flop.

After they docked the boat, Archer gripped her waist and kept her close as they walked back to his parents’ cabin. He kissed her temple, then looked up. His body stiffened.

She pouted. “What? What is it?”

He didn’t glance down at her, or even say anything. She turned toward where he was looking.

A petite woman stood on the porch, with short burgundy-colored hair and bangs, looking rumpled in athletic shorts and a tank top with a mustard stain down the center.

Her entire body lit up. “Mom!”

Tea jumped out of Archer’s grasp and ran for her mother.

Chapter 26

Archer

He knew the summer would come to an end. He just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.

They got good at avoiding what would happen next. Tea hadn’t spoken to him about how she was planning on heading back east, and for a while, he wondered if her lack of communication was her considering not going at all. But if she was, if she really wanted to return, he was ready to offer to drive her himself. Until her mom showed up.

Molly Richards tested for COVID, then drove twenty hours to northern Minnesota, only stopping once to sleep in her car and a couple other times for quick burgers, sandwiches, or any other easy meal she could get via a drive-thru on the road.

By the look of her surprised expression, he knew Tea had no idea her mom was driving up to the lake. And by the look her mother was giving him, he had a feeling there was a lot that hadn’t been said between the two of them.

Archer kept quiet through dinner as everyone caught up around their outdoor table, bubbling with excitement that Molly was back in Silver Falls after eight years. He wanted to be excited for her and for Tea, but the only thing he could muster was a feigned smile to mask his dread.

“Archer.”

He looked up from his half-eaten taco and across the table at Molly. They were all sitting outside, the sun tucked away behind the trees, the night getting cooler. Tea sat across from him and next to her mom. He hated how far she was already.

He swallowed. “Yes?”

“Tea tells me you’re working in hospitality? Cocktails?”

He leaned forward and faced Molly head on. “Yes, I’ve been working at one of the top cocktail bars in Minneapolis for a couple years now. But the lounge is closed, and I have no idea if it will open back up.”

She shrugged. “It might. I’ve seen a lot of bars doing some creative things in New Brunswick. Outdoor seating, walking cocktails in bags or plastic cups.”

He cringed on the inside. There was no way he was serving his cocktails in bags or plastic cups. He’d rather find a new job. If that made him sound pretentious, then so be it.

Dad leaned back in his chair, turning to Tea. “And what about you? What will you be doing?”

“Did you ever hear from Bank of America?” Molly asked.

Archer clenched his fists tight.

Tea flicked her gaze in his direction before responding. “Um, yes, actually. They offered me my position back. They want me to start mid-September.”