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look.
    “Bob Coleman isn’t always happy to see me.”
    “Why?”
    “I’m not sure he’s ever forgiven me for driving his tractor into the side of his barn.”
    “What?
    “Don’t listen to any stories about it either. I swear it was a faulty brake. I didn’t do it on purpose.”
    “Were you and your brothers always trouble?”
    He chuckled with the memory. “Let’s just say people in town new the name McKinnon. It’s good thing they all loved my mom.”
    Regis's chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh and Hawk decided that he'd found his new favorite sound. He wanted to hear it more. But then it changed and she was quiet again.
    “I envy you knowing so much about where you live. Knowing everyone. I barely remember some of the names of people I lived with.”
    “How many did you live with?”
    She drew in a deep breath. “Too many. Every time my father had to leave I got placed with a new family on base to stay with. It was a lot like living in a foster home, I suppose.”
    He nodded as if he understood, and yet, Hawk couldn’t imagine a life like that.
    Since the sun would be setting in an hour, they decided to head over to the mill to inspect the property. Regis had called Ian, but got no answer, so Hawk called his brother Ethan, who agreed to meet them. Ethan’s police SUV was parked on the muddied road and he was standing outside.
    “You made it,” he said as Hawk parked his truck. “I was worried I’d get a call and have to take off before you got here.”
    “We got hung up at the Jordan property,” Hawk said, getting out of the car.
    Regis got out of the truck and limped over to where Ethan and Hawk were standing. Hawk could see that the busy day had taken its toll on her and she was fading fast.
    “Ethan, this is—”
    “Reggie Simpson,” Ethan said. “We met a few days ago at the diner.”
    “How are you doing? I didn’t realize you were Keith’s brother.”
    Ethan raised his eyebrows. “Keith?”
    Hawk shot his brother a warning glare, which earned him a laugh from Ethan. But instead of the normal ribbing he would have gotten, Ethan turned his attention to Regis.
    “Keith tells me you were a Navy Seal.”
    Ethan smiled with pride as he looked at the weathered red façade of the Buxton Mill. “Yes, ma’am. That’s why this place is so important.”
    “Well, let’s take a look and see what the damage is.”
    The terrain was rough on the exterior of the mill. Hawk extended his hand to Regis to give her support as she walked.
    “I’m fine,” she said in a quiet voice when they got to the stairs by the door. His hand lingered linked with hers for longer than he needed. But Hawk was in no hurry to let go until Regis pulled away.
    “I heard Poppy and Mom talking about a winter wedding here. Seems Poppy has her heart set on having the ceremony in the back by the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the river,” Ethan said.
    “Winter weather is unpredictable, but it’ll be a pretty spot if it snows.”
    Regis looked around the room. “But there are no floor to ceiling windows here.”
    “It’s all in the new plans that Ian drew up for the place. He’s put a lot of time and money into the design and use for the property and has worked with the building commissioner to make sure we can get the permits to get this dream realized.”
    They walked through the main floor of the Buxton Mill while Hawk and Ethan described the plans for the center. Every so often, Regis snapped pictures with her camera and made notes on her tablet.
    “How did you happen to come across this property for a community center?” Regis asked.
    “It was a small, family owned business for over a hundred years until about fifteen years ago when the oldest family member died and the company got squeezed out by the bigger mills in the state. The others were retiring and didn’t have a buyer who was interested in doing anything but tearing it down and putting up condos because of the river location,” Ethan