Free Viator (The Viator Chronicles Book 1) by Jane Ralston-Brooks

home.
    As soon as she turned into the driveway, Matt and his friend Jacob ran to meet her from Edna’s house next door.
    She stopped the car and opened the door. “Hi, guys.”
    Matthew was the first one to reach her. “We’ve got Jacob’s bike here now, but we need your help.”
    She laughed. “I’d better let Edna know I’m here first. Can it wait a couple minutes?”
    “Oh, sure.”
    When they reached the house, Edna swung open the screen door as she dried her veined hands on her apron.
    “Hello, dear,” she said. “Gwen’ll be right out—she’s working on a project in the kitchen.”
    “Thanks.” Erin gave Edna a quick hug. “How’s everything?”
    “Very well.”
    Gwen came out, and Erin and the children hauled Jacob’s bike to their house. It needed a new tire and some other adjustments, so Erin helped the boys with the work, and it wasn’t long before they were done.
    “Thanks, Mrs. Holley,” Jacob said. “See you tomorrow.” He hopped onto his bike and waved goodbye as he left for home.
    “We’ll pick you up at nine,” Erin called after him.
    After dinner Erin and Gwen mixed up Matt’s birthday cake. While it was in the oven, Erin checked over everything she had prepared to take the next day. She’d picked up little meat pies from Hannah’s bakery, apples, cheese, grapes, French bread and butter, and bottles of juice. With the cake, a thermos of coffee, and some chocolate bars, Erin thought it looked like a perfect birthday picnic.
    Matt sat on the stairs and watched Erin add some napkins to the basket. “Is Gary still coming tomorrow?” he asked.
    “Yes, he is.” She glanced at him, and then looked back at the basket. She felt like she was forgetting something.
    “Do you think he’ll give us a ride in his car?”
    “I’m sure he will if there’s enough time,” Erin said. She checked to be sure she had plastic forks.
    “Mom, I don’t know about him,” Matt said.
    Erin looked at him sharply and her stomach turned over. “What do you mean?”
    He shrugged. “Jacob says he’s too smooth.”
    “Too smooth? Well, don’t worry—I’m not rushing into anything.”
    “Yeah, I know.”
    Erin walked over and sat down next to him on the stairs. “I don’t even know Gary very well. We can see how much we like him tomorrow, okay?”
    “I suppose so.”
    “We’re going to have a fun picnic and bike ride. It’ll be a great birthday. We can do whatever you want.”
    Matthew smiled. “Whatever I want? I’ll have to think about that.” He ran up the stairs to his room, and Erin smiled after him. She didn’t want him to worry. She did enough of that for both of them.
    After the children were in bed, Erin wandered to the beach, scanning the shadows as she walked. The night was calm, so she sat on a log and gazed at the reflection of the moon on the water. Across the bay Skagit Island was black, but lights glimmered from two boats moored beside it. The water rose in small swells as the tide inched up the beach. She had sat on that same log and watched the same moon so many times with William.
    The roar of a car speeding up the road jolted Erin upright, and she turned around to see a black SUV pull into her driveway. She was sure it was Gary. She looked back at the water and the moon for a moment, then got up and walked toward the house, feeling an odd mixture of anticipation and reluctance. Gary had already jumped out of his car and was knocking at the front door. She ran around the house to meet him. “Hi. I wasn’t expecting you till morning.”
    “I know it’s late, but I just got into town and wanted to see you.”
    “Come on in.”
    They walked in the front door and headed into the living room. Most of the lights were off, and the house was dim and shadowy. Gary sank down onto the overstuffed couch, leaned his head back and looked up at the ceiling.
    “It was a long drive,” he said.
    “Would you like something to drink?” she asked.
    “Yeah. What have you