“That’s a very nice bear,” she tried.
He still didn’t respond, and his bottom lip quivered a little. What was she going to do if he started crying?
“Knock, knock,” Willow said in desperation.
Henry’s eyes flickered to hers with interest, but he didn’t make a peep.
“Who’s there?” she asked herself. “Bear.”
He smiled at that.
“Bear who?” she asked. “Bear with me, I’m not done telling jokes. Knock, knock.”
He was really watching her now.
“Who’s there?” she asked. “Tank.Tank who?You’re welcome. Knock, knock.”
Dimples appeared on his little cheeks. She didn’t think he really understood the jokes, but he clearly liked that she was being silly.
“Who’s there?” she asked herself enthusiastically.
He leaned forward a little, like he was trying to figure out what she was going to do next.
“Hatch,” she replied. “Hatch who?Bless you.”
Henry’s little face broke into a smile and his gray eyes danced along with it, just like his daddy’s.
“Hey, there,” Jensen said, opening his door and sliding into the truck beside her. “Ryan’s coming up from the shop with the tow truck. He’ll be here in about two minutes—he was on his way back from Providence Road anyway.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Willow said, relieved.
Henry made a happy squeaking sound. When she turned back to him, he was smiling and waving his bear at her.
“Oh-ho, someone made a new friend while I was gone,” Jensen said, his deep voice filling the truck.
“Well, I already met you, Henry,” Willow said. “What is your bear’s name?”
But Henry closed his mouth tight, as if to tell her he wasn’t ready to talk with her yet.
“That’s Dusty,” Jensen said. “He’s Henry’s favorite.”
Henry pulled Dusty close to his chest, as if to demonstrate how much he loved his stuffed friend.
“Nice to meet you, Dusty,” Willow said.
Neither Dusty nor Henry had any reply, but the toddler grinned at her.
“Oh, here we go,” Jensen said, his eyes on the rearview mirror.
By the time she looked up, the tow truck from the local shop was already pulling past them.
“Do you have your keys?” Jensen asked her.
“Sure,” she said, getting ready to get out.
“Nah, stay put,” he told her. “I’ll just say hi to him.”
She handed off her keys and then watched as Jensen popped her trunk and pulled out her two shopping bags.
