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

in handy, and Leo joked about Anya's

vendors

checked the food's freshness

stones. Mia, the mom, wandered around with her child, feeling the heat and Henry's fussiness

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

husband?" Mia asked, patting

young man said, setting down the stove and making sure I was stable before

long after, Andre arrived with a new cushion, unwrapping it and laying it on the ground, "Mia, let's

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

carrying skewers of meat and vegetables, placing them on a

man, what's this river called? The current's pretty strong, and I've never heard of it before." He used to be a politician in Havenbrook,

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

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,

paused her spraying to listen, turned to the young

what locals believe. Most visitors these past few weeks have been

Chad, who was sitting on the mat, deep

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

Hansen, "This used to be part of the neighboring county but was incorporated into Havenbrook during the expansion. It used to belong to

is nice, with mountains, water, beautiful

to eat fish when he's taking his college entrance

rosy-cheeked Henry was later held across his dad's arms, instinctively clutching

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