Pat wasn’t faring much better. The unreserved, carefree attitude that was usually in place whenever he was around their valley neighbors was absent, but again, if anyone noticed anything amiss, they kept their observations to themselves. Old Matt Carlyle and his wife Livia arrived, and the first thing they did was tell Pat how nice it was to see him. Not two minutes later, John Hammond and his wife Tracie expressed the same sentiments. Aeli momentarily pushed her own concerns aside; the forced enthusiasm on his face broke her heart.
Slowly, the room filled with her friends and family. They were all oblivious to what might soon transpire. Aelissm located Aaron and pulled him aside.
“What’s up?” he asked, distracted.
Aelissm traced his gaze to Jim and Jessie Robinson’s daughter, Erica. Sh
