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My arguments die on my lips, not because I truly believe that Aspen is right, but because I don’t want to fight with her.
She wants to believe the best in everyone, I realize.
“He can’t keep doing what he’s doing with Lily,” I assert. “It’s not safe.”
“What about a compromise?” Aspen suggests. “I will make sure that I’m always in attendance on outings with Caden and Lily. If I feel like anything is getting too dangerous or questionable, I’ll put an end to it.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Do you think he’ll listen to you?”
“I’ll make him listen to me. You have entrusted me with Lily’s care, and I take that position seriously.”
My shoulders relax, and I exhale, darting my eyes back up the stairs, willing Caden to come out of his room, but the doors remain closed.
“Fine,” I mumble, unsure that the matter really is resolved. Relief crosses over Aspen’s face, and she smiles brilliantly.
How does she do that? She’s bewitching.
It’s a small wonder I can’t stop drawing her.
“Come on,” she urges. “Let’s go back and eat breakfast. You know what today is, don’t you?”
“Teddy bear picnic day,” I sigh. As if I can ever forget about Tuesdays.
“Are you going to join us?” Aspen asks hopefully, and I shrug, nodding without hesitation. “Oh, good. Lily will be thrilled.”
Zoe packs up the wicker basket as we re-enter the kitchen, and Lily barely noticed we were gone, her chattering continuing without a break.
“The weather will hold, hm?” the housekeeper comments, peering out the back door and into the summer sky.
“I hope so,” Aspen says nervously, casting the middle-aged woman a nervous look. Aspen can’t relax for a minute around Zoe, but I suspect that’s because of what transpired by the pool.
She’s worried about what Zoe might have seen or heard.
The notion almost makes me chortle.
“Are you all done, sweetheart?” Aspen asks Lily. “If so, let’s go get our bears for the picnic.”
“Is Papa Flint coming? I haven’t seen him this morning.”
Aspen shakes her head. “No, honey. He had to fly to New York last night.”
Disappointment colors Lily’s face. “Again?”
“I’m sure his work will be done soon,” Aspen tells her smoothly. “But Papa Pike is coming, right, Papa Pike?”
I sit up straighter on my stool. “Just make sure Suzie Seal doesn’t eat all my cookies again, or I’m turning Pablo Polar Bear loose on her.”
“Pike!” Aspen gasps, but Lily snickers loudly.
“That’s okay. Suzie knows how to fight back.”
Aspen and Lily stand from the table, and I wink at Lily as they retreat upstairs, leaving me alone with Zoe, who fusses around the kitchen.
“I think I made her uncomfortable,” she comments when Aspen’s out of earshot.
“She’s still warming up to everyone,” I grunt. “Don’t take it personally.”
“She’s warmed up to you and Caden well.” I glower at her, and she smiles beguilingly before returning to the dishes.
