“Can you imagine the look on Sylvia’s face if she sees her prodigal son sitting with our family?” Maura said. “I never thought I’d say this, but I like the way you think, Kaden Bonner.”

He let out a long breath. At least he wouldn’t have to face the funeral alone. The Haywoods might not be family or even friends, but they were certainly better than what he knew was waiting for him at home.

“It also means we’ll get to take credit for the shadow garden rosemary in person,” Addison said.

“Maybe we’ll even get some new customers,” Quinn said.

Maura pointed at each of her granddaughters in turn. “I like the way you all think.”

“What do you say?” Kaden asked Irene. “It would be nice to have a friendly face there.”

“And I’m a friendly face?” she said.

“You did invite him to dinner,” Clem said.

“And don’t forget the leaves,” Addison chimed in.

“Is this your way of saying I told you so?” Irene asked.

Her daughter grinned. “You tell me.”

Irene rolled her eyes. “I’m not making this decision until after dessert.”

Kaden and Irene sat on the back porch, alone. After dinner, everyone had quickly disappeared with excuses that they had to get home or head to the shop or read a book. Even Maura had made herself scarce once the family had agreed they’d attend the funeral.

Yet somehow Kaden was still here. He wasn’t ready to be alone yet.

“That was the best strawberry rhubarb pie I’ve ever had,” he said.

“Be sure to tell Harper the next time you see her,” Irene said. “It came from Baker’s.”

“I didn’t miss a lot about this town, but I did miss Baker’s.”

“For good reason,” Irene said.

They were quiet for a few moments, the crickets’ song soft and low. Fireflies floated on the thick summer air, casting the shadow garden in hues of green. The only place where Kaden had ever seen more in one place was at the bourbon festival. They came out in droves for the harvest.

“Your family is—”

Irene cut him short. “I’m not apologizing for them.”

“—the kind of family I wish I’d had growing up.”

“Oh,” Irene said.

“I like them.”

“As you should.” She leaned forward in her chair and turned her head toward him. “Your family really did a number on you.”

“It was a long time ago,” Kaden said.

She looked him over, her eyes catching on his. “There’s hope in you, but it’s more than that. You’re scared.”

“You can see all that just by looking at me?” Kaden asked.

“You really have been gone a long time,” Irene said.

“Can you read minds?”

“Just feelings,” Irene said. “But yours don’t make sense to me. Grief’s always hard to parse.”