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“You get the whole restaurant to yourselves. Where would you folks like to have dinner?” Grandpa asks. “Out on the deck with Moose or inside where it’s boring?”
“Outside!” both of the kids yell at once.
He winks at Harper. “Thought that might be the answer.”
He picks up a carton of crayons and two paper placemats and leads them out the back door.
“I’ll bring some drinks out,” I tell Harper. “What would the kids like?”
“Do you have chocolate milk?” she asks.
“Yup. And for you?”
“Something cold, wet, and boozy.”
“Beer, okay?”
“Perfect,” she says before disappearing outside.
As soon as the door closes behind her, Evie rushes over to me. “What’sshedoing here?”
“If I were to guess, I’d say she’s hiding from the current shitshow that’s her life.”
Evie nods her head sagely. “I saw Mrs. Baker’sPeoplemagazine. Just so you know, I’m not going to go all fangirl, if that’s what you think,” she says. “I’m not even a fan. I was just surprised to see her here.”
“Sure,” I say, following her into the kitchen to get the drinks.
“We’re going to have to hide her from Mrs. Baker,” Evie tells me as she sets the dishes down next to the industrial stainless-steel sink.
“Just for tonight though. They’re leaving first thing tomorrow.”
“Thank God.”
I’m grateful not to be flying them. They’ve decided to take the scenic route and rent a car. Mrs. Baker is determined to see a bear if it’s the last thing she does.
I take the tray of drinks outside, only to find Grandpa Jack sitting at the table with our new guests. He’s telling them about the time he wrestled a grizzly over a salmon. It’s not true—he dropped that salmon fast when he saw the bear coming—but it’s a funny story.
Moose has also joined in and has his big head resting on the tabletop while making puppy eyes at Harper, hoping for some attention.
“Moose, go lie down,” I tell him while handing out the drinks. He does what he’s told, but not without a sigh of resignation. “Sorry about that.” I look over at Grandpa Jack. “Some people aren’t as strict as they should be about reminding Moose of his table manners.”
Harper offers me a warm smile. “No trouble. He’s sweet.”
“He also drools a lot,” I tell her. Looking at Lily, I ask, “Do you have a dog at home?”
“Nope, but we have two cats, five chickens and one rooster,” she says proudly.
“Really?” I ask, shocked that a famous actress like Harper would have chickens.
“Why does that surprise you?” Harper asks.
“It just doesn’t fit the picture,” I tell her.
“People aren’t always what they seem.” She doesn’t seem very pleased by me making assumptions.
If I had to guess, I’d say there’s a deeper meaning behind her words. It probably has to do with finding her dirtbag husband with the nanny. “I agree with you totally. People aren’t always what they seem.”
* * *
