“I guess it’s a good thing we don’t all have to grow up to become our parents,” he said.

“Our seats are this way.” Quinn nodded toward a bartender who stood serving glasses of Bonner’s. “Bourbon’s over there.”

“I’ll pass,” Kaden said.

“It’s ten-year,” Harper said.

“That doesn’t make it any more appealing,” Kaden said.

“I don’t blame you,” Quinn said. “That shit makes me feel weird.”

Clem and Taylor were headed their way with Irene in tow.

“Nice of you to bail on us out there,” Kaden said.

“You had it handled,” Clem said with a shrug.

“Mostly,” Taylor said with a quick glance at Irene.

“It’s fine,” Irene said. “I just need another funnel cake and I’ll be over it.”

Taylor held up a bourbon ball. “How about one of these?”

Irene shook her head. “No bourbon.”

“You can’t even feel it,” Clem said. “It’s for flavor more than anything.”

“It’s Bonner’s,” Irene said, as if that was that. “I’m going to go try to find a bathroom and get that second funnel cake.”

“Oh, me too,” Quinn said.

“Come on,” Addison said to Kaden. “Let’s find a place to sit.”

He followed her to a row of folding chairs plusher than the ones in his apartment back in Ohio. He wasn’t entirely surprised. Except for their group and the Bakers, the tent was filled with politicians and Kentucky celebrities in suits and dresses fit for derby. Kaden glanced down at his V-neck T-shirt and shrugged.

Before Kaden reached his seat, a Black man in his midsixties approached him.

“Kaden Bonner?” he said.

Kaden’s heart lifted. Someone who knew him by name.

“Mayor Stokes?” Kaden said.

He chuckled and offered Kaden his hand. “It’s just Tim these days. Haven’t been mayor for a couple of decades.”

“You remember me?”

“I saw you at the funeral,” Tim said.

Kaden deflated. “Right,” he said, and even though his stomach had long since settled, it churned at the memory.

“It’s all right,” he said. “My wife and I got into a shouting match over where we were going for dinner before the funeral was even over. It was a weird night.”

“It sure was,” Kaden said.

“I just wanted to welcome you back to Yarrow.” He clapped Kaden on the back. “You planning to stick around?”

Kaden glanced the way Irene had gone. “I just might.”

“Well, if you need anyone to help get you connected, I’m your man,” he said.

“Thank you, sir,” Kaden said.

Tim laughed, clapped Kaden on the back again, and took a seat a few rows over.

Kaden settled in next to Addison.

“You make friends fast,” she said.

“Pays to be a Bonner, I guess.”

The voice of the current mayor of Yarrow came over the speakers, cutting their conversation short.