“Yes, she is, and she loves you more than I’ve ever seen a woman love a man. I can only hope to find that kind of love someday. It’s the kind of love that can move mountains, or dead bodies, if needed.”
“What?”
“I didn’t move those bodies, Dad. Mom did it. Mike had already told her the land was being sold and she’d planned for them to be moved. When I sent divers to find them, they were already gone. I had to do a lot of digging to find out what happened to them and I made sure any last traces were removed, but it was Mom that made sure that no one would ever come looking for the love of her life because some bears behaved badly and ended up at the bottom of a lake.”
“My God.”
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Viv,” he said, still stunned.
“Don’t tell her I told you, Dad. She asked me to keep it quiet and let you believe that perhaps the Diamondbacks moved them to their burial grounds or something. She didn’t want you to know that she was involved because she said you’d be upset with her.”
Travis nodded, noting that Kat was headed in their direction.
“What are you two whispering about out here on the porch?” she asked, smiling at them.
“I was just talking to Dad about building me a sculpture for the resort.”
“Oh? What did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. Something befitting the Porter name. I was thinking he might create a large wolf overlooking the lake. What do you think, Dad?”
“You can’t afford me,” he teased.
“We’ll negotiate later. Right now, I have to fly out. I’ve got a meeting with Nathan Parker in the morning.”
“Give him my regards,” Travis replied.
“Middle finger then?”
“Yep,” he answered, kissing her on the cheek.
She hugged her mom and headed out to her car, glancing back as she opened the door. Her father scooped her mother up in his arms and carried her inside.”
“Lord, there’ll be thirty of us by spring,” Vivianne laughed as she slid behind the wheel.