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

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

supplies, nearby vendors sold all

food's freshness like

Anya and Leo fetched things, and Molly found a spot to clear some stones. Mia, the mom, wandered around with

appeared with a donkey, setting a stove and charcoal on the ground, "This was ordered by a Mr.

Mia asked,

to play on," the young man said, setting down the stove

and laying it on the ground, "Mia, let's put the child down

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

the young man returned, both carrying skewers

"Young man, what's this river called? The current's pretty strong, and I've never heard of it

thin blanket on the cushion for her son to lie on. Anya, wielding insect repellent,

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 this river brings exam success. Gradually, it became known

who had paused her spraying to listen, turned to the young

visitors these past

sitting on the mat, deep

one else noticed Anya's change in demeanor, as Mia remarked, "That explains all the high school students here

part of the neighboring county but was incorporated into Havenbrook during the expansion. It used

Hansen recalled recent events, "This place is nice, with mountains, water, beautiful

or just a legend? If it's true, I'll bring my grandson here to eat fish when he's taking

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

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