Page 49 of Waiting for Love

Then Alice called out, “Haz! Look!”

Olivia whirled around. Hazard had gone to Alice’s side to help her dismount. Instead, he caught her flying.

“Oooff!” He pretended to stumble, swinging one arm beneath her knees as he straightened. “Lady, you forget my age.”

Alice smacked his arm. “You can put me down now.”

“Not until I find a deep enough puddle.” He started carrying her to the ruins.

“Hazard!” she shrieked. “Don’t you dare!”

Olivia could only stare.

“Papa, look! Papa, catch me!”

“Not from Oatmeal, sweetheart. I’ll look from the wall.”

Olivia followed them to the wall, one eye on them and the other on Hazard and Alice. Hazard wandered through the snow-spattered grass, stepping over stones and fallen bricks. Alice flailed in his arms, laughing.

“Go on, Hannah. Climb.” Benjamin’s hand rested lightly on his daughter’s back as he encouraged her to continue their game.

“No. Catch Olly.” Hannah waved her closer.

Olivia gave Benjamin a sidelong look, expecting to see him frown. Instead, he had a smirk on his face.

“You started it,” he said, gesturing for her to climb the wall.

“I think you know better than to dare me, Benjamin Carroll.” She grinned back. Then she scrambled up the wall. Stood on top. Spread her arms. And jumped.

He didn’t react quickly enough, and she slammed into him. She started to fall before his arms enfolded her, gripping tight but too high around her shoulders. She slid down his front until her feet hit dirt.

“Olivia!” He buckled over laughing. “You are supposed to yell ‘look.’”

“I didn’t know there were rules,” she gasped out. And then they were both laughing hard enough to cry.

When she caught her breath, she cast a look about for Alice and Hazard. They had gone behind the wall and were now returning, Alice on her own two feet and unmuddied.

“I think we need a new game,” Hazard said, coming forward. “Didn’t you all used to play one where everyone hid until someone found you? Go on. I will count to ten.”

“Fifty,” Benjamin said. “We can’t hide anywhere in ten.”

“Twenty-five. I suggest you run.”

“I’ll count,” Alice said. “You both run.”

Crispin used to bring her and Reg here for this very game. Olivia knew all the best hiding places. Maybe it was childish, but it felt so wonderful to play. Olivia found it particularly amusing to see Hazard run. He looked young and free and not at all dignified.

There was something different about Hazard lately that Olivia could not quite put her finger on. He was not an old man, for all he’d started referring to himself as such. He was not that much older than Jasper. But during this visit, he had seemed somehow even less old. As if he had fewer lines across his brow.

They each took a turn hiding with Hannah. And once, Alice stood with the child and counted to ten so that Hannah could find them. Of course, they were within five feet and poorly hidden. Hannah squealed with delight and tagged them all.

Breathless and overly warm, they peeled off their coats and hats and left them beside Benjamin’s. Hannah wanted to play Look, Papa again, so Hannah, Olivia, and Alice took turns jumping off the wall. It was improper, beyond a doubt, but if Hazard and Alice were doing it… But of course, that was different. Because each time Benjamin caught Olivia, he held her a little longer before setting her down. Or so she imagined. Wishful thinking.

“Alice must catch me this time,” Hazard said, puffing with exaggerated breaths.

Hannah patted his knees and said, “Hide me!”

“Ah. Someone takes pity on the old man. Yes. We will hide.”