Giving him something to do that was positive about the new place had seemed like a good idea. We’d spent many nights with him on the iPad asking for me to google lists of places to visit. Then he’d go and click on links with the most interesting photos and we’d discuss them.
I was pretty sure there were many places he wanted to see left on his list. We’d done some things already, like take a nice hikeon the Seven Bridges Trail, and gone to see a giant comic book store in Denver.
Yeah, Payton could definitely help me come up with ideas.
We would also need to figure out a day when we could go, not that I’d let our plans take us more than an hour or two from home anyway.Home.Huh.
Smiling, I watched as Jaina went across the wobbly bridge in a slow, steady gait, then went to put the harness back on her.
“Come on, girl. Let’s put you back with your friends. I have more work to do.” And then planning another family date.
Chapter 20
Crew
Iwas standing on my porch, watching the door to Mal’s cabin, when the man himself and his kid walked out the door. Right on schedule. Mal hadn’t noticed me, occupied with his phone as he shut the door but Payton did. He was wearing a backpack that was almost as big as he was, and his face lit up the second he saw me.
“Hi, Crew!”
I pushed off the railing and ambled toward them. “Hey, little man. Ready for your first day of daycare?”
He scrunched up his nose and shrugged his little shoulders, the ridiculous backpack nearly falling off one shoulder with the motion. “I like it at Mrs. Jenn’s.”
Mal ruffled Payton’s hair. “It’s only three days a week, bud. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The other days you’ll getto spend with Mrs. Jenn. It’s just to get you ready for school, right?”
“I guess,” he said, giving his dad the side eye. I held in the laugh as Payton started his hop-skip walk toward the main house.
Mal grabbed my hand when I was close enough and squeezed. I stepped right into his space and when he tilted his face up, happily gave him a kiss. I kept it light, but I made sure he knew how glad I was to see him.
“Were you waiting for us?”
We followed along behind Payton, and since Mal didn’t let go of my hand, I adjusted the grip so our fingers were locked together. Mal seemed to like that, judging by the smile that played on his lips.
“I have to head into town to pick up the order from Landry’s. So I thought, you know, maybe you might want support and I could drop off Payton with you, then we could get the order and maybe grab lunch?”
A complicated set of emotions cascaded across Mal’s face, but he settled on a smile. “That sounds nice.”
“Great.” I lifted his hand to kiss his knuckles and used the action to pull him a little closer. I would have put my arm around him but he was just tall enough that would have made walking next to each other a bit awkward.
“Is my truck big enough to haul the load?”
He drove a late model Silverado that had an extended cab. Back then, it meant the bed was shorter. My Ram 2500 was better suited.
“I’ll drive.”
Mal shot me a look, and I could tell his mind was working. “Payton’s seat is in my truck.”
“Got it covered.”
Mal stopped walking and tugged my arm to get me to stop too. I glanced over at Payton, but the kid was picking dandelions and was fine.
“Crew, tell me you did not buy a car seat for my kid.”
“I did not buy a car seat for your kid,” I dutifully repeated.
“Crew!” His tone was half outrage, half amusement.
“I didn’t!” But I couldn’t stop smiling so he didn’t believe me. “I borrowed a high-back, five-point restraint booster from Lovett. His kid just grew out of it and it’s not expired. Did you know they do that? Anyway, he had one so I put it in my truck.”
