“He died last year. His place has been cleaned out, and it’s up for sale. Adam thought I should buy it, but it’s too big for what I need.” Mack squirted ketchup over his fries. “You’d think that kids couldn’t get into too much trouble in only a couple of hours.”

“I imagine it’ll go down something like this,” Lily told him. “Susie will tell her parents they’re spending the night with Grace. Grace will say she’s staying with Amber. Then Amber will say that she’s staying with Susie. The story will be that the mothers will take the girls home early on Saturday morning, and some kid who’s old enough to drive will really be the one to drop them off. Boys will do the same thing, and if no one gets caught, then the parents are never the wiser.”

“Man, I’m glad I’m not that age anymore,” Mack said. “You’re right. They are devious little snots. How’d you get so smart about all this?”

“Duh!” Lily popped her palm against her forehead. “Smoking pot in the library bathroom not even a month ago. I’m surprised that Holly’s not mixed up in the middle of it all.”

“Maybe,” Mack chuckled, “no laptop, phone, or any electronic device has taught her a lesson. I’ve got to get back to school now. I’ve got an FFA adviser meeting after school. The teachers from several surrounding schools are gathering, so I won’t be home until after dark. I’ll miss having supper with y’all tonight.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and headed for the door.

Dammit! She wished that she could tell him that she was already putting deep roots down in Comfort and never wanted to go back to Austin. But a promise was a promise, and she’d given the kids her word.

“I can pray that they’ll change their minds, though, can’t I?” she muttered.

Lily made a right turn into the lane, and the school bus pulled in right behind her. The kids beat her into the house and were already in the kitchen by the time she’d gotten her coat hung up and her purse set on the bottom step of the staircase.

“Are, too!” She heard Braden already arguing with his sister.

“Am not!” Holly’s voice had gone all high and squeaky.

Lily crossed the foyer and went into the kitchen. She checked on the pork roast she’d put in the slow cooker that morning. “Are what?”

“Holly’s friends, Rose and Ivy, are going to a party tonight in some old barn. Isaac said that they want her to go with them. I told her to be careful because rats live in old barns, and she’s scared of little bitty mice, so she’d probably faint if a rat started chasing her,” Braden said.