Spending months at my parents’ house with my mother hovering would be more than I could take. I needed space and solitude if I was going to make it through this summer. The modern craftsman I’d found was perfect. Spacious, with a killer view. If it had been anywhere else in the world, I would’ve loved staying there, but it felt more like a beautiful prison. “I got a place up on the bluff.”

My mother’s brows pulled together. “Does it have everything you need? What about food? You’re so used to being able to get takeout in the city. Maybe you should stay here instead.”

“Now, Kara, the boy needs his space. He’s a grown man now.”

I reached out and squeezed my mom’s hand. “I’ll be fine. I can cook for myself, you know. But I’ll be at the bar most days, so I can always grab a meal there or somewhere else in town.” I hadn’t done much exploring yet, so I had no idea how much everything had changed and what my options might be.

My parents shared a look, and I straightened. “What?”

Dad cleared his throat. “Have you seen Isabelle yet?”

My jaw worked. “You mean Bell?”

“I’m taking that as a yes, you’ve seen her.”

“She poured a beer over my head.”

My mom gasped. “What did you do to that girl to make her do that?”

I bristled. Bell and my mom had always been close. Mom gave her the warmth and affection she’d never received from her own mother. Apparently, not much had changed. “I didn’t do anything,” I muttered.

Dad scoffed. “She has one of the kindest spirits I’ve ever seen, you must’ve done something to get her so riled.”

I twisted in my seat. I should’ve kept my damn mouth shut. “I think I just surprised her, is all. Hunter didn’t tell her I was coming.”

“I am going to thump that boy upside the head the next time I see him. What was he thinking, not telling her you were coming back?” My mom stood, placing cookies on napkins and handing them to Dad and me. She was always one to busy herself whenever she got agitated.

“Bonehead move if I ever heard one.”

“Frank, don’t call your son a bonehead.”

“You said you were going to thump him upside the head.”

“I’m his mother, it’s my right.”

“Well, it’s my right to call him a bonehead.”

I couldn’t hold in my laughter.

My mom’s head snapped in my direction, and her face softened. “I missed hearing that sound around here.”