Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre picked up the book and gathered his little boy close, ready to teach him some classic poetry.

"Daddy, what's the Mississippi River?” Henry asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.

Andre smiled. "The Mississippi? That's America's mother river."

Henry shot a puzzled glance at his mom.

Mia laughed. “It's your dad's mother river, but not mine. The Mississippi is a big, beautiful river-long, wide, and sparkling."

"Mommy, are there fish to eat in the river?" Henry wondered aloud.

That made Mia sit up cross-legged on the bed. "Honey, have I ever eaten Mississippi River fish?"

Henry scrambled up onto Andre's chest. “Daddy, I haven't had it either.”

Andre let out a patient sigh. "Let's read the poem first. When I get some time, I'll take you both to see for yourselves."

through the poem—he just stuck his

making it back to their own

morning, Mia was on the phone with her friends. Molly answered, yawning so hard Mia could almost hear it through the line. "Mia, did your

"Nope. Yours?”

room, watching Henry tear around with boundless energy. Wherever he went— even if he got into a little trouble-he brought laughter and smiles in his wake. His face was always lit up with joy, and Mia found herself grinning

here—there's a bird!" Henry

to say "Grandpa❞ now, but Hansen loved it when his grandson called him "Grampy." He said it was their own special name, and clever little

hurried outside. "Let's see this

up and said, "That's a dragonfly. You know, when dragonflies fly

blinked. “Grampy, what's a

was heavy and gray-it was supposed to be the rainy season, but Havenbrook had barely seen any rain this

earlier, Hansen had stood by the window, worry etched in his face. He'd told his sons, Andre, if this dry spell keeps up, the crops are going to suffer, and the markets will be

all. That's the thing about the markets—they're never steady. Bruce Cedillo sighed, "What

"Bruce,