Filling the sink with the usual lemon scented liquid, River set to it while her mom packed up the leftovers. Looking out the window, she could see the barn and nothing but blue sky, fields and dusty road for miles. Not a cloud in the sky today, she noted. It would make for beautiful star gazing tonight.

Countless nights had been spent in the back of her dad's beat up pickup truck on some dark country road with her cousin Ben and Amanda. Watching the stars. Dreaming about life after Westacre. Or making out with whatever crushes they happened to be on with at the time. Be home before the moon is high in the sky. That was always her dad's rule for curfew.

"Jillian is a good eater. I was surprised to see your child gobble up vegetables like they were candy." Her mom set the empty serving dishes and spoons on the counter next to the sink.

And here we go. "Yes, she loves vegetables. And fruit. And basically anything edible. She doesn't discriminate."

"Well, that's good. She'll be strong. She's going to need her energy now that she's in a place where she can run around and play."

River rolled her eyes. "She could run around and play before Mom. Just because we lived in a city didn't mean we had her chained up in a cage restricting all movement." She swallowed hard, taking in a deep breath. Why did it always have to be so difficult?

"I wasn't accusing you of child abuse, River. Just simply saying, she'll have more room to roam now that you're here." She snapped a towel off the bar on the stove and started taking from the drying rack.

"Dad still hasn't convinced you to buy a dishwasher huh? You know it would save you some time. You'd have half an hour longer for cards." It was a tradition after dinner when all the washing was done, her mom and dad played cards, always the best of three hands, regardless of the game. "Who's ahead by the way?" The beat up old notebook on top of the breadbox held a running tally since the year River was born.

"Your father, but I'm closing in on him. A couple more nights of him hitting the Jim Beam too early and I'll have him for sure." She scoffed proudly, running the towel around a plate and placing it in the open cupboard next to her.

River grinned. "Ya, but harvest is coming. He's always at his best during harvest. Which has always struck me as odd since he runs himself into the ground for weeks," she mused. As did every farmer during harvest. It came with the territory. Up with the sun, down with the moon. Every day until it was done.

"One's mind is at its best when it's challenged," her mother added in her know-it-all tone that raised goosebumps on the back of River's neck like nails on a chalkboard. "Speaking of being challenged, I'm assuming Jillian will be attending the local elementary next month?"

"Yes, Mom. Where else would she be attending? It's the only elementary school in the county."

"There are other options. You could be homeschooling her for all I know. Did you know that Amanda works as a teacher there? She's quite popular from what I hear."

"Yes. I know Amanda works there." River ran the dish rag over the last fork and pulled the plug.

"Oh really? Have you stayed in touch with her over the years?"

Wringing the rag a little more tightly than necessary, River lifted her chin. "No. The only people I've stayed in touch with are you and Dad."

"I wouldn't exactly call that 'staying in touch'," her Mom said, grabbing a stack of salad plates and placing them neatly into the cupboard. River closed her eyes and breathed deep. "But I suppose it was better than nothing." She turned to the table and removed the cloth, folding it up neatly before setting it back down on the table. Only her mother would fold a dirty tablecloth for washing. "If you know Amanda works at the school then I'd assume you've seen her since you've been back?"

"Yes, Mom. She came to see us the first night we were in town." She hadn't meant it as a dig, but she could see it was taken as one.

"You haven't exactly been approachable the past twelve years, River. Surely you hadn't expected us to drop everything and run to see you right away." She shoved a chair in under the table, legs squeaking on the wood floor.

The screen door squeaked open and Jilly bounded in followed closely by her grandpa who was smiling proudly. "Mama! We have the perfect name for the goat!"

"Tell me!"

"Rosie-Chester Billybottom. It was gonna be just Rosie or Chester but Grandpa said we couldn't get close enough yet to see if it was a boy or a girl. So it gets two names instead of one."

River laughed and snatched her up, kissing her cheek. "I think that's a brilliant idea."

"Grandpa says I can come visit my goat any time." She smiled and gave her grandpa a thumbs up, which was returned with a wink.

"Oh he did now?" River smiled. "You know what, I think that's two brilliant ideas in one night." She set Jilly down and smoothed her hair, shooting her dad a silent thank you to which he nodded.

"Grandma, will you push me on the swing?" Jilly asked, walking over to her grandma.

"Jilly, we have to go soon." River said, looking at the black cat clock on the wall. The summer days were long but she didn't want to stay too long and get caught on the road in the dark. Even though these roads were etched somewhere in the back of her brain, she didn't want to risk it. Not her first time back anyway. Despite being surrounded by the lights of the city for so long, she hadn't forgotten how dark the night could get in the country.

"Aww, just for a few minutes?" Jilly whined.

"Okay, but just a few."

Jilly took her grandma's hand and led her outside.

"She's a hoot that one." He leaned against the doorframe, watching. "Her dad must have done something pretty bad for you to leave him behind like this. Is he planning on seeing her?"

River frowned. "No. He won't be seeing her. He doesn't even know where we are to be honest. And I'd like to keep it that way."

Her dad nodded, still watching out the door, arms crossed. "You sure that's the right decision this time?"

She fought the sudden urge to spill everything to him, right then and there. He had always been her rock. Her confidant. He never judged her. He was in every aspect the yang to her mother's yin. "I'm sure," she nodded. "I don't want him around Jilly. It's for the best."

Glancing at her casually, he nodded again. "Okay." He straightened. "I'd better wash up for cards. Your mother thinks passin' me good ol' Jim is gonna help her," he said, patting River on the arm. "But she's wrong," he whispered loudly and River laughed.

Tears welled up in River's eyes and she placed a hand over his. She hadn't realized until now just how much she had missed him. "I love you, Daddy."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Love you too, Peanut."

He walked off to clean up and River leaned against the kitchen counter. Her phone pinged and she pulled if from the pocket of her shorts. It was a text from a number she didn't know. Local, she noted. She opened it and read.

***

Hey, River. Jackson here, Amanda gave me your number. Hope that's okay...

Stella hasn't stopped talking about Jilly since you all were here the other night. I thought maybe they could get together and play sometime soon. Feel free to call or stop by.

Hope things are going okay with your folks.

-J

***

Dammit, Amanda. Apparently nothing was sacred. Her best friend being buddies with Jackson was going to take some getting used to. She started to type a response then stopped and decided to check her email, stomach doing a flip flop when she saw there was a new message from her attorney in New York.

***

Just an update. The defense is dragging things out as long as they can. There's been a setback on the prosecution's end but of course they won't tell me what.

I know we've been over this, but are you still sure you don't want to testify?

-Charles Unger, Senior Partner, Unger, Solis, and Braun, Attorneys at Law.

***

Nerves rattled, she hastily tapped out a response.

***

Yes, we've been over this. I will not testify.

What kind of setback? Is it serious? Should I be worried?

-Alison O'Neill

***