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Fallon stepped into Owen’s bedroom. Owen was on the floor playing with a toy school bus Ida had bought him, along with some of his block figures.

He held up one of the figures. “You need to go to school,” he said theatrically.

“Okay, Momma,” he said, holding up another figure.

“Hurry. The bus!” the other figure said.

Fallon grinned. She imagined he’d heard Ida and Beth press Evan to hurry up more than once. She cleared her throat. “Ready to go?” Fallon asked.

Owen popped up and ran out of his room, nearly tripping Riley as she came down the hallway.

“Slow down,” Riley called after him.

“We gotta hurry, Mommy!” Owen yelled back.

Fallon emerged, chuckling. “Do you think we could rent a bus to take him to preschool next year?”

Riley laughed.

“Momma!” Owen called.

“That’s you,” Riley said.

“How did he get so big, Riley?”

Riley shook her head with amusement. Owen had been a curious soul since birth, always exploring his world with wide-eyed wonder. Spending time with his older cousins only fueled his curiosity and enriched his vocabulary. He struggled a bit at first when Beth and Barb moved to Whiskey Springs. It wasn't easy for him to suddenly share the attention of the adults he had once claimed all to himself. Recently, Owen had focused on finding his place among his cousins, determined to fit in despite his age. He seemed to understand that attending school was the first step in leveling the playing field. For Owen, the idea of riding the bus would make him his cousins’ equal.

“He has grown, hasn’t he?” Riley agreed. She turned to Fallon and smiled. “You’d better get moving before…”

“Momma!”

“That happens,” Riley said, placing a kiss on Fallon’s cheek.

“Momma!”

“I’m coming!” Fallon called back. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Mm.”

“What? We’ll be back in less than an hour.”

Riley pursed her lips.

“What?” Fallon asked.

“Try not to get lost at the ice cream shop or the pond on your way back.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Fallon said, walking away.

“At least, do me a favor and don’t wash the ice cream offinthe pond!” Riley called after her.

“Bye, Mommy!” Owen yelled as the door closed.

“Clearly heartbroken to leave me behind,” Riley said just as Hope cried. “And my sister thinks life in Whiskey Springs is boring andquiet?” Riley laughed. “Somehow, I don't think things are going to get quieter any time soon.”

“Momma?”

Fallon looked down at Owen, who was sitting in the dirt, eating an ice cream cone while Evan skipped rocks across the water.