“She’s perfect for you and Mindy, Sam,” Helen had whispered as Fiona approached the table. “I know, four kids is a lot, but you have the resources. And she’s happy to stay at home. Wouldn’t that be wonderful for Mindy?” The hard sell had made him feel resistant, but Fiona was a genuinely nice woman. They chatted easily about the small liberal arts college they’d both attended, although in different years, about how Rescue River was a great place to raise a family, about people they knew in common, since Fiona was related to Marie. There was something shuttered in her eyes, some distance, some pain. Still, she was pretty, with her long, wavy red hair, tall as a model but with pleasant curves. Obviously smart. Sam’s attention strayed, wondering where Susan had gone. He scanned the crowd down by the band’s tent, where the sounds of pop music emerged alongside patriotic favorites. Checked the food area, where the fragrance of barbecue and burned sugar lingered.
