Erin heard someone come in the front door, and a moment later, Kennedy, Wyatt’s younger brother, entered the kitchen. “Hi, Erin!” To Vickie, he said, “Are the pies cool yet?”

Vickie hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Under the tea towels on the counter. You’ll have to cut one. Eight evenly proportioned slices per pie, no hogging.”

“Eight?” Kennedy sounded appalled. “Can I have two pieces, then?”

Vickie rolled her eyes. “Of course, but only one serving at a time, use a plate, and no shoveling allowed. If you drop filling on my clean floor, I’ll skin you alive.”

While Kennedy rummaged in a cupboard for a dessert plate, Erin responded to her uncle’s question. “I’ve considered other forms of police work. But in the end, it’s all linked together, and I’m afraid I’d end up just as unhappy and dissatisfied as I am now.” She plucked a pine needle off the front of her white blouse and smiled. “I’m also ready to start dating, and that isn’t happening for me in law enforcement. My friend Julie thinks the uniform is part of the problem. I’m more inclined to believe it’s the circumstances under which I meet most single guys in town. For some reason, none of them are inclined to ask me out when I’m issuing them traffic citations.”

Vickie laughed. “I can see how that might dampen the ardor of most men.”

Kennedy turned to rest his hips against the counter’s edge. Erin met his gaze and felt a moment of embarrassment. Then she shrugged it off. Right now her career change was only in the discussion stage, but eventually everyone would hear some version of her reasons for no longer wanting to be a cop. At least this way, Kennedy was getting the real story.

As the conversation continued, Kennedy devoured two pieces of pie, then rinsed his eating implements and put them in the dishwasher before thanking Vickie and leaving the house to resume work. Slade watched him leave and then leveled his gaze on Erin. “I think you know you don’t need our approval if you want to change careers, so as glad as I am of the visit, I wonder why you’re actually here.”

Erin sighed. Her uncle could always be trusted to cut right to the chase. “In order to return to school, I’ll need a little help. I feel really icky about asking. I’m a grown woman, after all. But I’ll be tight on money if I work only part-time while I’m going to college, and I don’t think I’ll be able to make my income stretch to cover the rent on my cottage.” She held up a hand. “I’ll be able to pay some rent. Don’t get me wrong. But having my own house will become a luxury I can no longer afford.”

“Say no more,” Vickie interjected. “Of course you’re welcome to stay here. Brody and Marissa are almost moved into the new house. Until they get their kitchen organized, they’ll still have meals with us, but they’re sleeping over there already.”