“All right. Wait until I come get you, please,” I told him, then got out of the car.
Harper got out on her own, but she was old enough to know to be careful.
I grabbed Tristan and carried him to her. As soon as I put him down, he grabbed my hand, suddenly a bit shy.
“I wonder if Lacey is working today,” Harper said in a knowing tone, glancing at me over his head.
Oh.Oh.Did Tristan have a crush? Well that was all kinds of adorable. I knew something about crushes, too. Mine was just less adorable and more—okay, I couldn’t think about that right then, because I would only get maudlin or horny, and neither of those was good for the situation.
Harper skipped to the door and opened it for us.
“Thank you, my kind lady,” I told her, and she grinned.
“Of course, my liege,” she replied, and I wondered where she’d heard the expression before.
“There you guys are!” Aunt Regan called out and came to give us all hugs. “You ready?”
Based on my companions’ enthusiasm, there was only one answer to that.
Chapter 17
Marlie was chattering nonstop in the way she only did when she was incredibly excited. I loved to hear it. Half of my focus was on the road, and the GPS guiding us to our destination. The other half was listening intently as Marlie rambled quickly, “and then” peppering every other sentence. I couldn’t help the smile that curled my lips. It was fantastic to hear my kid this happy.
She’d been the one I’d worried about the most during the transition.
“And then Brynly saidshegets to have thewholeday off for her birthday. And that it was justso sadI only got to take a half day. And I was gonna tell her that she was being dumb. But Juni told her to shut her stupid face. And then Mr. Huntley made Juni apologize.”
I had to hold back a laugh, because I was definitely on Juni’s side. “Well, Mr. Huntley was right, huh? Because it’s not nice to tell people to shut up or call them stupid.”
Marlie’s sigh gusted out of her. “Yeah. I guess. Except she did need to shut her stupid face.”
I did laugh at that, though I curbed it quickly. It was more her tone, disgruntled and grumpy, that caused amusement than her words. I knew my children were polite most of the time, and Marlie more than the other two, but I still had to take the opportunity to remind her that it was better to be kind.
“Be that as it may, it’s still better to speak kindly, even if the other person is being rude.”
“Yeah, I know.” The accompanying eye roll was in her tone, but since I hadn’t seen it, I let it slide. “Hey, Dad?”
“Hey what?”
“Where are we going?” It was the fourth time she’d asked.
I gave her the same answer I’d given her the other three times. “It’s a surprise.”
She groaned, but it was followed by a giggle, so I laughed too. Another minute passed, before her next question. “Are we almost there? We’ve been driving forever.”
Glancing at the GPS, I confirmed, “Yep. Almost. About ten more minutes.”
“Okay.” She let out a happy little hum. “Did you know Juni hasfivebrothers and sisters?”
I’d been hearing more about Juni the past few days, and it seemed like the girl was making an effort to befriend my daughter. Given the stories I’d heard, Juni didn’t take shit from anyone and hated bullies. Juni was a winner in my book.
“Nope, you didn’t tell me that.”
“Five! And Juni has to share a room with her little sister and…” Marlie was off, telling me about all the things that she’d learned about Juni’s family, and I was happy to listen to her prattle.
It wasn’t until we pulled into the parking lot of our destination that Marlie stopped. Just mid-sentence, complete silence. I turned off the car and then unbuckled, so I could twist in my seat and look at her. She was staring wide eyed at the building, breathing fast, but completely shocked.
I had to rein in my glee.
