Two
Gideon stretched his legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles, and knitted his hands behind his head. As twilight deepened and the stars began to appear, winking against the indigo, the day’s heat finally abated, chased out by a cool sea breeze. Around Owen’s deck, flames danced in the half dozen lanterns fixed to the railing. It wasn’t the same as when he or Hope or Christian lit dozens of candles and lanterns on the deck of their family’s cottage the first night home, but it reminded him of it. Maybe tomorrow, when Hope and Daphne returned from Montana, he’d be able to indulge in that magical tradition. He just couldn’t bring himself to do it tonight. Not without Liam.
He reached for his lemonade, drained the rest of it, and set the empty glass back on the glass-topped
