Savannah’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Wren holding a teddy bear. Wren launched herself across the couch and snuggled up to Savannah, then held the brown-and-tan plushie tight.
“I got this for you, Sabby,” she said in a cheerful tone.
“Thank you so much, Wren.” Savannah’s gaze met Levi’s. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“It was all Wren’s idea,” he said with a grin. “We were just at the store, getting some soup, when she spotted it in the aisle while I was at the register.”
“What’s the bear’s name?”
Wren shrugged, hugging the bear tighter. “Don’t know. You name it.”
“I’ll have to think about that.”
“You could name it Poplar, after the river,” Juliet teased.
Savannah recoiled at the suggestion. “Hard pass.”
“I think you should name him Wendell,” Wren said, planting a dramatic kiss on top of the teddy bear’s head.
“Wendell it is.” Savannah gave the stuffed animal’s arm a gentle shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Wendell.”
Wren giggled. “Bears don’t talk, silly.”
“Can I take that for you?” Hayley gestured to the bag in Levi’s hands.
“It’s only some soup and crackers,” he said, glancing at the contents. “And maybe a little ice cream.”
Wren’s eyes widened in excitement. “Can we have some?”
Savannah looked back at Levi. “That’s up to Levi.”
“Pleeeease.” Wren thrust Wendell into Savannah’s lap. “I’ll be good. I promise.”
A hint of sadness passed over his face as he spoke. “Wren, you don’t need to be good just to get some ice cream. That’s food, and it’s delicious. If these ladies are willing to put some in a bowl for you, then you can have it.”
“Come on, Wren.” Juliet tipped her head toward the kitchen. “I’m Juliet, by the way. One of Savannah’s sisters. Let’s go into the kitchen. You can help me scoop the ice cream.”
“Yay!” Wren scrambled off the couch, took Juliet’s outstretched hand and skipped along beside her.
Hayley’s phone rang. She looked at the screen, and her eyes lit up. “Oh. I better take this. Hello?” She left the room.
Savannah sent a grateful smile Levi’s way. “Thank you again for everything you did to help me today. I’m not sure I would have gotten out of that river without your help.”
“I don’t know about that,” Levi scoffed, running his fingers through his hair. “Keith knew what he was doing, but it was taking too long for my liking. I shouldn’t have tried to intervene.”
Savannah noticed the exhaustion in his eyes and gestured at the empty sofa cushions beside her. “Would you like to sit down?”
“Sure,” Levi answered sheepishly, looking embarrassed by his intrusion into her home. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to impose. You must be exhausted.”
She waved him off. “My sisters are taking good care of me. Have you heard how David and Alexis are doing?”
Levi sank down on the opposite end of the sofa. “Alexis needs to stay overnight in the hospital for observation. She has a concussion. As far as I know, David’s doing fine. Just rattled. Candace’s husband picked her up from the rafting office. She wasn’t injured.”
“And Jasper. Is he okay?”
Levi’s jaw tightened. “He’s good. Off with Miranda someplace.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, is there something wrong between the two of you?”
His gaze met hers. “What do you mean?”
“Things seem really tense.”
“Yeah, we’re still not agreeing on much these days.”
She scrunched her nose. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Wren came in from the kitchen, carefully clutching a bowl of ice cream in both hands, the tip of her tongue tucked in the corner of her mouth.
“Do you need a hand there?” Levi asked, scooting over on the couch.
“I have to sit next to Wendell the Bear,” Wren insisted, pushing the bowl of ice cream in Levi’s direction. “Could you hold this for me?”
“Sure thing.” The corner of his mouth crept up in an amused smirk. He seemed just as entertained by her shenanigans as Savannah was. Wren climbed onto the couch and rearranged herself with a theatrical huff.
“All good?”
She nodded, then held her hands out expectantly.
