keep his rehab hush hush until the media got wind of it and gleefully blabbed every gory detail online.
He’d fought back with some story about a promise made to his sister. Such a lie, but the spin made River Mackenzie look real good. West would’ve been jealous of the story. Her ex was into that phony public relations nonsense, which was why he’d fooled her into believing he loved her for so long. Even her mother’s heart was softened by the country star’s tale, but not enough to actually sacrifice her daughter to such a man… as if she had to worry.
“You’d better watch yourself,” Momma said. “That boy’s got eyes like any man in this town.”
They had eyes all right. And somehow Liv still managed to stay single. Since Pip was here to witness, Liv did her best to repress her sassy tongue. “Momma, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
River would sign a few autographs, maybe do an impromptu unplugged concert at his fans’ bidding. He was staying in town to perform at the Balloon Festival in a few weeks. Even worse, Liv would be up close and personal taking his picture at both events. She bit down a grin, thinking about how much of a fool she’d make of herself with how star struck she got. Yeah, Momma’s secret daydreams of Liv getting together with the country star were never coming true.
Pops trailed into the living room in tan camo hunting pants and a ragged T-shirt. By the looks of his Winchester Magnum rifle he’d dragged inside with him, he’d been scaring deer out of the orchard this morning. Her father had a long white Rasputin beard and an Axle Rose bandanna tied across his forehead. He’d always been accidentally cool in his retro way. Pops picked up a plate from the table and tottered into the cramped kitchen.
“Honey, unless you’re trying to get fresh, get out of my workspace.” His wife batted him a way with a girlish giggle. Their ranch style home had always been a tight fit for their small family. Momma had decorated the living room across the way with worn and comfortable furniture that she hadn’t bothered to match with the plywood walls or the fuzzy brown carpet. Instead, she’d thrown crocheted blankets over everything to bring together the patchwork of color.
Her father laughed and kissed his wife on the cheek. “As a matter of fact…”
Pip laughed heartily from his booster seat, enjoying their public displays of affection as his grandmother moved the frying pan of eggs onto the kitchen island. Pops piled the eggs high onto his plate. “Liv hasn’t eaten yet,” Momma warned.
He swiveled around and handed his daughter the heaping plate of food. “Here ya go, sugar pie.”
“Pops!” Liv choked on her laughter. “I can’t possibly eat this much.” Her daddy always took good care of her, way more than she deserved. She was his middle child and the apple of his eye. When she’d showed up on her parents’ doorstep after West had left her, she’d been terrified Pops would rub in how right he’d been about that “cowboy,” but he’d only squeezed her in a tight hug. He vowed to take care of her and the kids until they were grown.
Of course, Liv would never ask him to do such a thing. He wasn’t as young as he used to be. She’d planned to move out as soon as she got back on her feet, but after the last two years of failed crops, she’d pitched in the rest of her savings to stop the land from going to the bank. There was nothing left.
Liv scraped off half the eggs from her plate onto the one next to hers. “Charlie?” she called. “Come eat. Aunt Mimi’s watching you today while I do photographs in the park.” Her younger sister’s Sudz shop was across the street from Maple Park, and Liv would only leave them for a few hours.
“I wanna go take pictures with you.” Charles came tripping into the room, looking very grownup for a six-year-old. He’d buttoned his plaid shirt to the top button and slicked back his hair.
Liv kept back her chuckles at how cute he was. He’d always acted too old for his age, a thing that had both melted and broken her heart. “Not today, buddy. I bet Aunt Mimi is making more soap today. She’s going to need your help.”
“I wanna help!” Pip exclaimed.
“You can too.” She smoothed down her youngest’s wayward