“I heard a rumor, but I don’t know if it’s true. Supposedly, Mr. Hunt might be the Lewis family’s illegitimate son.”

“No way! Don’t go around saying stuff like that. That’s dangerous talk.”

“Alright, enough. Mr. Hunt’s been nothing but good to us. We shouldn’t be gossiping about him like this. It’s really not right.”

With that, the conversation ended.

When Rachel landed in Arden, she saw someone waving a placard from afar.

“Rach.”

Back when she hadn’t been around Tyler’s dog much, the name Rach hadn’t struck her as odd. But now, hearing it directed at her, it felt off.

Mark Spenid walked over and gave Rachel a warm hug.

Rachel shot him a look of distaste. “Can you not call me Rach anymore?”

“What? You don’t like it? What should I call you then? Grandma Rach? Aunt Rach?”

Rachel rolled her eyes. She knew better than to argue with him. Back when they had worked together, the two of them bickered over everything, big or small. If there was even the slightest chance to talk back, they’d go at it endlessly.

“I told you not to come pick me up. It’s not like I don’t know my way around.”

She had texted him before flying over, telling him he didn’t need to bother coming. But even though he’d scoffed at the idea, here he was anyway.

“Why do you care? I haven’t been to the airport in forever. Thought I’d take a stroll. Is that a crime?” Mark glanced at her luggage and lifted it. “Tsk, tsk. That’s all you brought? Guess Tyler didn’t bubble-wrap you like some fragile item, after all.”

“If you keep running your mouth like that, Mark, you really will never find a girlfriend.”

Rachel gave him the side-eye.

Not far away, Yale’s eyes were wide open.

“Wait, did they just…?”

Jerry quickly grabbed him. “It was just a hug, relax. What’s got you so worked up?”

“It’s not that! Mr. Hunt told me before we left that he specifically said to make sure Ms. Lloyd avoided physical contact with other men.”

Jerry looked stunned. “Are you serious? What is he, some naive boy who’s never even dated before?”

Yale felt the need to defend Tyler.

“Don’t talk about Mr. Hunt like that! He might seem cold most of the time, but he’s incredibly devoted. He’s not like those guys out there who swear they’d die for you, then turn around and get tangled up with the next woman they see. Are you telling me there aren’t tons of men like that? I can guarantee you, Mr. Hunt is not one of them.”

Jerry still didn’t buy it. “If he keeps acting this controlling, Rachel’s gonna feel suffocated.”

Yale scoffed. “How would you know? Maybe that’s just how they like things. Have you ever even been in a relationship?”

The two of them kept bickering on the side while Rachel and Mark continued chatting and laughing.

Hands stuffed in his pockets, Mark gave Rachel a once-over. “You look different now. Calmer, somehow. What happened? It’s like that fire in your eyes is gone.”

Thinking about everything she had gone through since returning home, Rachel forced a stiff smile.

“Yeah, I guess I’ve just been through a lot. That’s life, always experiencing, always growing.”

Mark could see the sadness behind her words. He gave her another comforting hug. “I get it. Don’t worry. It’s all in the past now.”

Rachel pulled away, creating some distance, and quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

“Anyway, about that doctor you said you’d find for me, how’s that going?”