He shook it off as he carried his daughter to the living room. He’d learned long ago to accept the things he couldn’t change, and this was one of those things.

“Morning, Noelle.” Lisa smiled at his daughter. “Are those donuts? If they are glazed and coated in sprinkles, you’re my favorite.”

“A donut is not a donut without sprinkles.” Noelle settled down on Lila’s couch. “I will trade you a pink sprinkled for a cup of coffee. I’m all about negotiating today.”

Noelle offered up her box of treats and Armie noticed she also had a couple of envelopes in her hands.

He passed the box to Lisa. “Did the mailman come early?”

“Is there a reason you’ve invaded my home, sis?” Lila yawned as she entered the kitchen. She wore pajama bottoms and a tank top, a brightly colored robe around her shoulders. She looked gorgeous and rumpled and perfect. “Should I leave a sock on the door or something?”

Lisa flew over to her sister, throwing her arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re okay. We didn’t hear about it until last night and then it was late and we’d had some hurricanes, but we should have come home.”

“Three hurricanes,” Remy pointed out. “And they were not light on the pours.”

Lisa ignored him. “And you wouldn’t answer your phone.”

Lila hugged her sister, but her eyes found Armie’s and she smiled. “I was busy.”

“She was busy with my dad,” Noelle said with a grin.

Lila’s eyes flared as she seemed to realize her sister and brother-in-law weren’t the only interlopers. “Hey. I . . . uhm . . .” She shook her head and obviously gave up. “Yep. I was. No way around that one.”

It was good to know she wasn’t going to try to hide the relationship from his daughter. He had no plans to.

Lisa frowned and took a step back. “I was worried about you.”

“I wasn’t the one with a compound fracture that managed to nick the femoral artery,” Lila pointed out. “Nor was I the one who had the heart attack. I’m fine. All in all, everything went our way and everyone is healthy and happy.”

“But it must have been traumatic,” Lisa insisted.

Lila simply nodded. “That is why they call it trauma. I’m feeling good today. The coffee smells great.”

“And you are looking good, too,” Remy said with a grin. “Especially given your blessed state. You are glowing, girl.”

Noelle clapped her hands. “I heard that one, too. Beth and I spent most of the night calling around and finding out all the crazy rumors about the accident. Did you know that Mabel actually set up the whole thing so that Doc would come back and save the town because she’s been secretly in love with him for years?”