Richard volunteered to accompany Tyler and the kids and, with Caitlin riding on his shoulders, he led away the small party.

Sinking onto a picnic bench, Claire groaned. “Piece of advice? Never have children.”

Tessa laughed and collapsed at the opposite side of the table, the cake carcass between them.

Claire licked a dollop of pink icing from a plastic fork. “Not only are they absolute demons, they stole your date. I’m sorry. Did you go on any rides before you found us?”

“Not yet. Do you know Richard’s never been to Benton’s Grove?”

The fork fell from Claire’s fingers, spearing a hunk of cake. “How is that possible?”

“That’s what I said.” She swung her legs onto the bench and shook gravel from her sandals. “I don’t think he likes it very much.”

Claire squinched her eyes and frowned. “What’s not to like?”

“I know, right? But he’s making snotty comments and bragging about the ‘real’ amusement parks he’s been to. Maybe his parents refused to bring him here, and he still holds a grudge.”

“You joke, but old Doc Bruce holding out on Benton’s?” Claire tapped her nails on the tabletop. “That wouldn’t surprise me one bit.”

Tessa searched Claire’s face for a glint of humor but found none. “Really? Why?”

Claire pulled a metal water bottle from her tote and took a swig. “Has Richard told you anything about his family?”

“Not much. He mostly talks about his dad—going on house calls with him and listening to jazz.”

Glancing in the direction the men and kids went, Claire plonked the bottle onto the table. “I didn’t know old Dr. Bruce well, but he ran a mighty tight ship. Even Tyler was scared of the guy. Sure, he was ‘Beloved Dr. House Call’ to everyone in town, but I don’t think having him as a dad was a picnic. Rumor is, on the day Richard was born, Dr. Bruce declared to all the OB nurses his son would follow in his footsteps. ‘Mark my words, he’ll run this hospital someday.’ Richard grew up believing his future as a doctor was destined.”

No wonder the guy tended toward controlling behavior. He learned it from his dad. She imagined him growing up burdened by his father’s expectations, and her heart broke a little. More than once, her own dad squeezed his lanky frame into kiddie rides at Benton’s so she wouldn’t have to go alone. She couldn’t imagine feeling bullied by him. “But Richard loves his job.”

“Oh, sure. Hey, maybe Dr. Bruce just recognized his son’s natural inclination for medicine. Maybe…” Claire scraped another icing glob from the cake plate. “But has Richard ever mentioned his sister?”

A sister? She gave a strangled chortle. “Not once.”