Page 84 of Holding Ground

I hunch down so that I’m eye level with Baylor. “The bunkie is all fixed now, so Emelia is going to move back in.”

Her head snaps in Emelia’s direction. “But I don’t want you to.” She rushes over and wraps her arms around Emelia’s legs.

Emelia looks at me with a torn expression as she runs her fingers through Baylor’s hair.

“Remember, we talked about this, kiddo? Emelia was only staying with us while the bunkie was out of commission.”

Baylor tilts her head back and looks up at Emelia. “Do you have to?”

She frowns. “I do. But you can come see me any time you want. I’m right out your back door.”

That seems to appease Baylor, at least a little. “Will you come with us to see if I win the contest tomorrow?” She turns those big, begging blue eyes toward Emelia, and I know she won’t be able to resist.

We’ve already talked about how it would be better if Emelia didn’t join Baylor and me tomorrow, just so we wouldn’t be setting the standard. But I can see that’s out the window now.

I can’t even blame her. I’ve fallen victim to that look on Baylor’s face many times.

“Sure, I can come and hang out with you guys for a bit.” Emelia looks at me with an “I’m sorry” expression.

“Yay!” Baylor lets go of her legs and jumps up and down.

“Do you want to join us for pizza?” I nod in the direction of the driveway. “I have some in the truck.”

“As long as that’s okay?” Emelia arches an eyebrow.

“Of course it is.” When Baylor rushes off toward the driveway, I say to Emelia, “We can try to cut the cord again tomorrow.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

Emelia

The three of us enter the community center to wait for the announcement of the winners of the Blueberry Bake-Off. I told Elliott I would meet him and Baylor here because I had to go into town to run some errands ahead of time.

As soon as Baylor saw me waiting on the sidewalk for them, she ran forward and hugged my legs. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t feel a warm rush of love when she did it.

When we enter the large room, a lot of people are already here, and to my surprise, I actually know a good portion of them, mostly because I’ve visited their businesses or chatted with them before and after the town hall.

Off to the right, a folding table has been set up with safety pamphlets, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors, and a few members from the fire department linger there in their navy-blue cargos and T-shirts.

As soon as Baylor spots her uncle, she rushes over. “Uncle Ansel.”

He breaks off from the fellow firefighter he’s talking to, bends at the waist, and scoops her up. “How’s my favorite niece?”

He tickles her tummy, and she giggles and squirms in his arms.

“I’m your only niece, Uncle Ansel.”

“Doesn’t matter, you’d still be my favorite. Just never tell your future cousins.” He catches sight of Elliott and me approaching. “Hey, Emelia.”

My cheeks heat, remembering the last time I saw Ansel and his assumption about what his brother and I had been up to. “Hi, Ansel.”

He chuckles as though he can tell how uncomfortable I am.

Beside me, Elliott exhales through his nose.

“You coming to poker at Roy’s tonight?” Ansel asks his brother.