“I’ll bring up the subject with her. But you have to talk to the guys.”

“Agreed, but no rush.”

“If you say so,” she murmured.

“I’ll print out the list of questions for you. Pretty basic stuff—mostly confirming family background.”

“Okay.”

“One more thing. I didn’t tell you about the money. A couple of thousand dollars, in cash, in her backpack. We have no idea where that came from. Tina confided in me that Carly said it was money from Reba—but I’m not sure I believe that.” He shook his head. “And I’m not sure whether Eli should be investigating this.”

“What? Two thousand dollars? Where would Carly—” She stared at him. “You’re thinking it’s theft?”

“Hope not!” Then he said, “If you do learn anything about it from Carly, I need you to share it with me, just so she’s not blamed for some crime she didn’t commit.”

“I’d have to let her know. You understand that, right?”

“Yes. But we’ll leave it for now,” Cord said. “Ready to go inside?”

“Sure.” She stood up and the dogs stood with her. “Everybody in.” They happily trotted after her, and Cord locked the front door.

As she stood by her stairs, he walked over. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I appreciate what you’re doing for Carly. For both of us.”

She leaned toward him and gave him a light kiss. He kissed her back, equally restrained, then said, “What the hell? Let me kiss you properly.”

“I’d like that!”

“I’ve been waiting for this…” Waiting and hoping…

Shallie didn’t say she’d been waiting, too, but she didn’t hold back when he kissed her. She said with that kiss what she didn’t say with her words.

This is only the beginning, he told himself. The beginning of a new way of being together.

CARLY FELT VAGUELY hungover when she got up—although she certainly hadn’t had anything, other than water, to drink. And her experience with hangovers was minimal, anyway. No, her feelings this morning had to do with regret. And fear.

Showing off like that, impulsively getting up to sing, had been a mistake, especially since she’d done that Emmylou Harris song on My 3 Dads. She supposed the truth was that she hadn’t been able to resist. Even worse, those kids sitting in a booth near the back—she’d seen them watching her and she was positive one of them had said “Charlotte” as she walked by.