Raven climbed out holding two bags of groceries.
“I heard about the cereal.”
“Betrayal.”
Emma opened the front door.
“Hi!”
Luke glared.
She disappeared laughing.
Raven held up one bag.
“I brought dinner.”
“I can cook.”
“I know.”
“You look unconvinced.”
“I have tasted your chili.”
“That was one time.”
“It left memories.”
Luke stepped aside.
Raven entered.
They cooked together.
Badly at first.
Then naturally.
After Emma went to bed, Luke and Raven sat on the porch.
Crickets filled the darkness.
Luke said:
“I’m sorry.”
Raven looked over.
“For?”
“Assuming you knew.”
“I understand why.”
“That isn’t the same as being right.”
“No.”
He nodded.
Raven waited.
Luke continued.
“I’m not selling.”
“I know.”
“Your company?”
“Will build around you.”
He stared.
“You can do that?”
“Yes.”
“Cost?”
“Four million more.”
Luke almost choked.
“Raven.”
“It is a $310 million facility.”
“Four million is not trivial.”
“Neither is coercing somebody off family land.”
Luke looked toward her.
“You make it sound easy.”
“It isn’t.”
“Board is furious.”
“Caldwell says I’m letting my relationship compromise fiduciary judgment.”
“Is he right?”
Raven considered.
“Partly.”
Luke appreciated the answer.
She continued.
“But the acquisition review found twelve families pressured improperly.”
“I would have halted it without knowing you.”
“Would you?”
“Yes.”
Luke studied her.
He believed her.
That frightened him too.
Love, he was learning, was partly the risk of eventually believing somebody.
“What happens to Caldwell?”
“Investigation.”
“And Graham?”
Raven smiled without humor.
“Circling.”
“For what?”
“My job.”
Luke leaned back.
“You ever get tired of people trying to take your company?”
“Every Tuesday.”
He laughed.
Then became serious.
“I don’t want to be used against you.”
“You already are.”
He looked over.
“Press knows?”
“Not yet.”
“Board does.”
“And?”
“Graham’s allies say you manipulated me into altering development plans.”
Luke laughed.
“That is insulting.”
“Yes.”
“I barely manipulate Emma into brushing her teeth.”
Raven smiled.
Luke looked toward the field.
“Maybe we should stop.”
Raven’s smile disappeared.
“The relationship.”
“Because of the board?”
“Because my life could hurt yours.”
Luke turned.
“That is not your decision alone.”
“I know.”
“Then why say it?”
“Because if reporters show up at Emma’s school—”
“I deal with it.”
“If they dig into Anna—”
His face hardened.
Raven continued carefully.