I grabbed the honey-lemonade and finished it before exhaling dramatically.“Mabel knows internet safety.She preaches it to me.”
Dawn’s chuckle was slightly forced.“I’m sure she does.”Her sigh held a level of weariness to it that, as a parent myself, I felt deep down to my toes.“I miss you, kiddo.I miss both of you.How’s our girlie doing anyway?Is she adjusting?”
I told her about Mabel’s panic attack the other night, then how she found the osprey and has been spending a lot of time at Tom’s farm, which seemed to be helping.And finally, I mentioned her afternoon with Damon.By the end of it, Dawn was laughing, particularly at the bit about lichen.
“Oh, our girl is such a weird and wonderful, unique little thing.If she can’t find someone who matches her enthusiasm about lichen, then they are notherperson.”
“We all need our kindred lichen weirdo,” Spencer said.
“That we do, dear.”
After another minute, we ended the call, with Dawn promising to keep me updated.She also said she’d send me the information she had on Kyla’s sister in Cedar Bluff, as well as the parole officers there.She suggested that if I reached out to them and explained the situation, they might be more inclined to keep me updated on her.
“You want another drink?”Spencer asked, glancing at my empty glass.
I shook my head and stood up, digging my wallet out of my pocket.“No thanks, man.I need to get going home.”I made to fish out some cash, but he waved me off.
“On the house.It’s just great to see you and Mabel so happy and thriving.And hey, if things between you and Naomi work out, all the better.They’re a real nice family, and I think you and Mabes would fit in well.You all deserve to find your happily ever after.”
“What about you?”I asked.“You seeing anybody?”
He shook his head.“No time.Kids and this place keep me busy.Besides,” he scratched at the back of his neck, “heart still has some pretty serious cracks in it.I’m not sure I want to saddle any woman with the job of fixing those.Need to mend them myself first.”
“That’s a real healthy way of looking at things.”
“Been listening to Maverick’s podcast.”His big smile lit up the room.“You ever heard it?”
“He mentioned something about it the other day, but I haven’t listened to it yet.Now I think I’ll give it a whirl.”
Mabel came in with an empty plate and glass.
“Ready to go, kiddo?”I asked her.
She set the empty dishes on the bar.
“How were the nachos?”Spencer asked her.
“They were good.I liked the salsa.”
“Owen makes that himself with produce from his garden.Guys a real green thumb farmer type.”
I held out my hand.“Thanks again, man.Next time, you definitely have to let me pay.”
Spencer shook my hand.“We’ll see about that.Just make sure my kids always get straight A’s and we’re good.”
“That’s not ethical,” Mabel said.
I rolled my eyes.“He’s kidding, Mabes.”
Chuckling, Spencer and I hugged quickly, then Mabel and I headed to the truck.We were just pulling out onto the road when a familiar champagne-colored sedan slowed down, coming at us from the opposite direction.
I recognized the salt-and-pepper hair and bright, curious copper eyes of The Island Mouth.
“Duck!”I told my kid.
She didn’t even question it and instantly folded over in the front seat.
I sped away, my tires kicking up gravel at the top of the driveway.Maybe a few rocks even pinged off Jolene’s car.I didn’t care.
