Scott hurried over and found five brand-new hundred-dollar bills stashed under the cutting board.

"Officer Chad, for just a few cherries, this is way too much."

Chad hadn't planned this with Molly. It was all her, sneaking over, grabbing his wallet, and leaving the money there.

"Molly really gets me, huh?"

Molly grinned, "Of course, only I truly understand you."

Looking for a lunch spot, Molly found a riverside picnic club on her phone.

Molly nibbled on her thumb, "Chad-"

"Henry's too young."

"He won't eat much anyway."

"The smoke will be strong."

Molly stopped pleading and got down to business, "Chad, if you take me to the picnic, I'll stay over at the Byrne family's house tonight."

Officer Chad, always ready to compromise, asked, "Where's it at?"

A half-hour drive later, they arrived at the bustling riverside, vehicles parked all around. It was a busy weekend. Walking down the slope, Andre carried his son and held his wife's hand, surrounded by dirt paths and the smoke from woodland barbecues. Kids played by the river, and a few high school students in uniforms were there too.

daughter's choice. He always had a soft spot for the

stuff came in handy, and Leo joked about Anya's blind

supplies, nearby vendors

the food's freshness like

clear some stones. Mia, the mom, wandered around with her

a donkey, setting a stove and charcoal on

Mia asked, patting her son's

for the child to play on," the young man said, setting down the stove and making sure

a new cushion, unwrapping it and laying it on the ground, "Mia, let's put

drowsy Henry, "He's not settled yet. I'll hold him; he cries as soon as I

young man returned, both carrying skewers of

The current's pretty strong, and I've never heard of it before." He used to be a politician in Havenbrook, so he thought

husband, then spread a mat and thin blanket on the cushion for her son to lie on. Anya, wielding insect repellent, sprayed it around to keep mosquitoes away

lit the stove and explained, "We call it Scholar's River. Legend has it that in ancient times, a scholar passing through here caught a fish. His wife cooked it, and after eating, he went to his exams and topped them. On his way back, he remembered the fish and ate it again. Since then, it's said that eating fish from

to the young man, "Do

visitors these past few

was sitting on the mat, deep

in demeanor, as Mia remarked, "That explains all

later explained to Hansen, "This used to be part of the neighboring county but was incorporated into

by this, Hansen recalled recent events, "This place is nice, with mountains, water, beautiful scenery, and a

it's true, I'll bring my grandson here to eat fish when he's taking his college entrance exams in 18 years." Henry, cradled by his dad,

held across his dad's arms, instinctively clutching his dad's finger, miraculously calming into

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