Wishing Lake Read Online Free PDF

didn’t release the woman’s right hand. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to my brother, Noah Cale, and his mother, June. They’re visiting from Sequoia.”
    His brother. Relief hit her like a tidal wave. Sequoia was one of the towns near Trinity Falls. Peyton remembered seeing signs for it as she’d driven into town.
    She glanced at Simon. He was staring at the trio with wonder. Now she better understood the vitriol between Simon and Ethel. If Noah was his son—and there was no denying the family resemblance—he would have been born right in the middle of Simon and Ethel’s thirty-four years of marriage. How long had Ethel known of Simon’s betrayal with this much-younger woman? That kind of hurt cut deep. But Darius was right. Noah was his brother. He had a right to know him. In the reporter’s position, Peyton would have done the same thing.
    Darius continued the introductions, moving counterclockwise through the group. “Doreen Fever. Audra Lane. Stan Crockett. Megan McCloud. Our mayor, Ramona McCloud. Dr. Peyton Harris. Ean Fever. And my boss, Jackson Sansbury.” He skipped Simon.
    June looked a little overwhelmed. A blush pinkened her brown-sugar features. She dragged her fingers through the short, dark brown curls that exploded around her makeup-free oval face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Darius has told us so much about you.”
    Peyton added her greeting to the chorus of welcomes.
    Ean gave Darius’s brother a considering look. “I understand you play tight end for Sequoia High’s football team.”
    “That’s right.” Noah’s cocky grin was identical to Darius’s. “And I understand you were Heritage High’s star quarterback. Back in the day.”
    Laughter rolled through the group. Even Peyton enjoyed the exchange. Trash-talking must be another family trait.
    Ean tossed his young target a calculating smile. “Trinity Falls was undefeated against Sequoia—back in my day.”
    “In mine, too.” Jackson crossed his arms over his broad chest. “That would make it four straight years of Trinity Falls’s dominance over Sequoia.”
    Noah threw back his head and laughed. “Well, if you old-timers have been reading the news, you’d know the tide has turned in the decades since you played high school ball. Sequoia has evened up the contest. In fact, we’re going to beat you next month.”
    Peyton grinned at this form of male bonding. The laughter and comments coming from the rest of the group indicated she wasn’t the only one enjoying the exchange.
    Jackson looked at Ean before arching a brow at the high school athlete. “You think so?”
    “It’s inevitable.” Darius clamped a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Sequoia hasn’t lost to Trinity Falls since Noah joined the team.”
    Simon’s laughter boomed with pride. “Of course they haven’t. Noah’s a Knight.”
    “Actually, he’s a Cale.” June’s voice was mild, but her brown eyes were steely.
    Jackson tilted his head, meeting Darius’s gaze. “Care to put a wager on that game?”
    Ean’s eyes widened. “D, you’re going to bet against your alma mater?”
    Darius shook his head. “I’m not betting against Heritage. I’m betting on my brother.”
    Peyton’s heart melted at Darius’s words. Noah’s face darkened with a blush. The look he gave his older brother was near hero worship.
    “I’ll take your bet.” Darius held his hand out to Jackson. “Loser buys the winner a beer.”
    Jackson shook Darius’s hand. “Deal.”
    Noah frowned. “I can’t drink.”
    “You can’t gamble on the game, either, genius.” Darius lightly smacked the back of his brother’s head.
    “Hey, careful with the hair,” Noah protested, smoothing the close-cut style that also resembled Darius’s.
    Darius shook his head. “Was I ever that vain?”
    “Yes.” Five voices—Jackson, Ean, Megan, Ramona, and Doreen—assured him.
    Peyton wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. She was glad she’d let Ramona talk her