“I love doing it,” she said, hugging me back hard. “I get to hear all about the soap opera that is middle school.”
I chuckled as I released her. “See if you can turn Drew into a one-woman man.”
She snorted. “That boy falls in love every other week.”
I groaned as visions danced in my head. “I’m going to end up shot by some father.”
Grae grinned as she patted me on the shoulder. “No one would come after the chief of police.”
“I wish I had your confidence.”
“Come on, munchkins,” Grae called down the hall. “This bus is leaving the station.”
Charlie ran down the hall, his backpack slapping against his back. “Don’t leave me.”
She bent and kissed the top of his head. “Never. I need to hear more about the golden dart frog.”
Glee filled Charlie’s face as he took Grae’s hand. “If you just touch it, you coulddie. It lives in the Amazon and…”
Charlie continued listing the amphibian’s many traits as Drew hurried down the hall.
“Gear is in the wash. I’ll drop it at the school office. Sorry about that, D-man.”
Drew nodded. “No big.”
But it was. I was forgetting things left and right, dropping the ball. One of these days, those balls were going to shatter. I needed help, and I needed it now.
I pulled him in for a quick hug. “Love you. You know that, right?”
Drew reared back. “Do you have cancer or something?”
I made a face. “No. Can’t your old man just tell you he loves you?”
“Sure…but you don’t usually do it before I leave for school.”
“Well, I should.” Yet another ball I’d dropped.
“Dad,” Drew said, his voice getting a little quieter, “I know you love me. You don’t have to make a big thing about it.”
“But itisa big thing. The biggest,” I argued. “And I should make a point of telling you all the time.”
“Okay,” Drew gave in. “Just not in front of my babes, okay?”
I barked out a laugh. “Fair enough.”
I followed Grae, Charlie, and Drew out of the house. As I stepped onto the front porch, the view stole my breath, even after all these years.
Cedar Ridge had something I’d never found anywhere else. A peaceful energy that grounded. The tiny mountain town hours east of Seattle had a beauty so pristine it almost hurt to look at.
My house was nestled in the foothills with a view of the lake surrounded by snow-covered mountains. And I never took it for granted.
The boys and Grae hurried to her SUV and climbed inside to join a scowling Luke. With a honk of the horn, they were off.
Just as I was about to turn back to the house, I caught sight of a truck heading up my gravel drive with two SUVs following it. I frowned as I recognized my brothers’ vehicles.
They all parked and climbed out.
“What are you doing here?”
