She gave me a sheepish smile. “Cady has another recital at the end of the week. Roan and I didn’t want to miss it, so we’re doing the honeymoon a little later.”
Aspen’s red hair swished around her shoulders as she turned to the woman next to me. “You must be Hallie. I’m Aspen, Cady’s mom. And, I guess, Law’s sister-in-law now.”
“I really hope my long line of new sisters doesn’t give me as much grief as Grae does.”
Aspen laughed. “I don’t think any of us could hold a candle to mountain-climbing, knife-throwing G.”
Confusion swept over Hallie’s expression.
“All three of my younger brothers are engaged or newly married, so I’m gaining a brood of sisters,” I explained.
“And Grae, his actual sister, is kind of a bad—” She cut herself off, glancing at the kids. “A bad-A.”
Hallie smiled, but I saw the lines of tension bracketing her mouth. “I didn’t know you had such a big family. That must be fun.”
“Sometimes, it’s fun. Other times…mayhem,” I told her honestly.
Aspen chuckled. “Very true.” She turned to Hallie. “How are you settling in?”
“Good. Everything’s really good.” Hallie’s hands trembled a bit, and I saw Aspen’s gaze zero in on the movement.
“That’s great. If you’re up for it, you and the boys should come over after school. You can meet the animals,” Aspen offered.
I shouldn’t have been surprised at her kindness. Everything she’d been through had given her a radar for others who might have pain in their pasts.
“Yes!” Charlie cheered, zoning in on our conversation. “It’ll be so fun, Hallie. The funnest! You’ll meet Emmaline.”
Hallie’s mouth curved at that as though Charlie’s mere excitement eased her somehow. “I have always wanted to meet an emu.”
Cady grinned at Hallie. “She’s super sweet.” The grin slipped. “Well, she doesn’t like my dad, but she loves me and Mama.”
My chest constricted at Cady calling Roan her dad. That little girl had worked a miracle where my once-broody brother was concerned.
“Well, hopefully, she likes me, too.” Hallie turned to Aspen. “I’d like that. Should I get your address or…?”
Aspen waved her off. “We’ll just meet here after school. You can follow me home.”
“Sounds good. Thank you.”
“Anytime,” Aspen said, turning back to her daughter. “Hugs, Katydid.”
Cady launched herself at Aspen, who laughed as she hugged her tightly.
I ruffled Charlie’s hair. “See you tonight. You can have Hallie call me if you need me.”
Charlie nodded, but he was already heading for school.
“He used to not want me to leave him,” I mumbled.
“This just means he’s healthy and well-adjusted,” Hallie said as we made our way back to my SUV.
“True, but I miss him needing me a little.”
Hallie climbed inside as I rounded the vehicle. “I think I’d be that way, too. Sometimes, it’s nice to be needed.”
I heard a longing in her voice that had me glancing over at her. Every tiny detail about Hallie pulled me closer and had me wanting to know more. It made sense. I’d always wondered what had happened to the woman I’d rescued on the mountain. With the case being as brutal as it was, it had stuck with me. It was all natural curiosity.
I forced my gaze away from her and toward the parking lot as I started the engine. “I’ve got one more stop to make if it’s okay with you.”
