The Edens, #1
Indigo Ridge
by Devney Perry
Contents
Chapter 8
Overview
Griffin accompanies Winn to Quincy’s bars to retrace Lily’s last weekend. Bartenders report no recent sightings or boyfriend. At Willie’s, Griffin’s uncle Briggs arrives confused, signaling worsening dementia. After seeing Briggs home and clashing with his father over next steps, Griffin visits Winn, helps assemble her bed, and they agree to spend one more night together.
Summary
Griffin accompanies Winslow Covington to Big Sam’s Saloon despite his dislike for the bar. With drinks as social currency, Winn questions bartender John about Lily Green’s recent visits, companions, and possible boyfriend. John reports Lily wasn’t there that weekend and never saw her leave with men, though he needles Winn as an outsider until she proves she knows Lily’s friend group.
They continue to the Old Mill, where bartender Chris echoes John’s answers: no sign of Lily that weekend and no known boyfriend. Outside, Griffin notes Conor’s unrequited feelings for Lily as Winn’s suspicion of a secret relationship lingers. Predicting her next stop, Griffin rides with Winn to Willie’s; Willie offers only terse negatives.
At Willie’s, Griffin’s uncle Briggs arrives and repeatedly mistakes Griffin for his brother Harrison, revealing deepening cognitive decline. Griffin stays with Briggs for an hour, then drives him home, observing more troubling signs yet a tidy cabin. Concerned by parallels to their grandfather’s dementia, Griffin calls Harrison for help; the conversation turns tense when Harrison insists he’ll handle it.
Restless and worried, Griffin then drives to Winn’s house. He confides about his family’s history with Alzheimer’s and Briggs’s worsening episodes. Finding Winn mid-unpacking with a new bedframe, Griffin retrieves his tools and helps assemble it. Their chemistry rekindles, and despite earlier resolve to avoid repeats, they agree on “one more night.”
Who Appears
- Griffin EdenAccompanies Winn to bars, manages small-town dynamics, handles uncle Briggs’s cognitive decline, clashes with his father, and helps Winn assemble her bed.
- Winslow (Winn) CovingtonPolice chief retracing Lily’s weekend; questions bartenders, suspects a hidden boyfriend, and agrees to one more night with Griffin.
- Briggs EdenGriffin’s uncle; arrives at Willie’s confused, mistakes Griffin for Harrison, showing worsening dementia; taken home by Griffin.
- Harrison EdenGriffin’s father; picks Griffin up, hears about Briggs, insists he’ll handle it, creating tension.
- JohnBartender at Big Sam’s; confirms Lily wasn’t there, shares she was responsible, initially wary of Winn.
- ChrisBartender at the Old Mill; provides similar answers about Lily, friendly to Winn.
- WillieBartender at Willie’s; offers curt negatives to Winn’s questions about Lily.