Page 125 of Shattered By the Currents

“Now, can we please talk about something else?” She wasn’t above begging. “How’s bridge going?”

For a moment, she wasn’t sure her parents would let it go. They often didn’t.

Thankfully, her mother started talking about yesterday’s heated game and some cheating that had taken place. Her dad, of course, always the diplomat, added that her mother didn’t have evidence.

The first smile since arriving finally curved her lips. She loved it when they bickered. It was always accompanied by love. For a long time, she hadn’t been sure anyone would look at her the way her father looked at her mother…then she’d met Connor.

She nodded as her mother started ranting about how much the residents gossiped. Raven was tempted to tell her mother that what she was doing now sounded kind of like gossiping, but she kept her lips sealed. Their conversation had turned around, and Raven didn’t want to ruin that.

“They’re like teenage girls when any young man steps foot in this place.”

“You mean like Connor?”

“Yes. I think most of the women here, nurses included, almosthopeHerbert wanders off some days.”

“Don’t forget about Briar’s man,” her father said, as he sipped his coffee. “They loved him.”

“I haven’t seen him for a while.”

“Briar has a man?” It shouldn’t surprise her. Briar was young and pretty.

“She tried to keep him a secret, but we’ve all seen them sneaking around the place.” Her mother leaned forward and lowered her voice. “He has nothing on Connor.”

She chuckled. “Connor will be happy to hear that.”

“What are you guys laughing about?”

They all looked up at Briar across the lawn. She stopped at the gate and used her key to check the lock.

“I was just telling Raven about Pattie cheating at bridge yesterday,” her mother huffed.

Briar’s smile widened as she headed over to them. “Now, Gene, Pattie vehemently denies that.”

“Pattie lies, my dear. You know she was an accountant before she lost her marbles. Never met an accountant I trusted.”

Briar gasped. “You do know I was an accountant in a past life?”

Raven’s brows lifted. “You were?”

“Yep. I’ve always been good with numbers but decided I was better with people.”

“I’d never have guessed that because I actually like you,” her mother mumbled, almost under her breath.

Raven chuckled again. Times like these, it was impossible to imagine her mother’s memory loss worsening. She was too full of life.

“Please tell me you’re here to get us for dinner.” Her father sighed. “Coffee and cookies just aren’t cutting it.”

Briar dipped her chin. “Dinner’s ready.”

“Want to join us?” her mother asked, looking at Raven.

She shook her head. “I’m meeting Connor at the bar. You go. I’ll clean up here.” They’d shared a plate of cookies, and her father had complained the entire time that they were too sweet.Lucky she loved her parents, because anyone else would say they complained too much.

After a quick hug, she watched her parents head inside with Briar.

She was about to stand with the empty plates and cups when Herbert stepped outside with two mugs.

Crap. “Herbert, I was just?—”