“Sure. He’d want to be careful with kids involved.”
“It’s more than that. He’s not someone who’s in it for instant gratification. He wants real. That’s hard to find.”
It fit the man I’d seen a glimpse of all those years ago, and it fit the man I was growing to know now. “That’s good.”
Aspen’s lips twitched. “Yes, it is.”
Cady pulled on her mom’s hand, her red pigtails swinging with the action. “Let’s goooooo.”
Aspen booped her nose. “The princess is ready for her carriage to depart?”
Cady giggled. “Yes!”
“Then let’s hit it.” Aspen glanced at me. “You good to follow? I’ll drive slow.”
A little anxiety bled out of me. “Slow would be great because I’m driving a brand-new car that Lawson bought, and I really don’t want to crash it.”
Aspen laughed. “There’s nothing like the pressure of new wheels. No problem. I’ll drive grandma-style.”
“That’s exactly my speed.”
“Dad got a new car?” Charlie asked, excited.
“He did.” I pointed to the massive black SUV. “And I think it needs a name.”
Charlie was already running toward it, his tiny backpack thumping against his back. When he reached the vehicle, he ghosted a hand over the side. “Batman. It has to be Batman.”
“Okay—”
“No, wait. The batmobile!”
I laughed as I opened the back door to help him in. “I think that’s perfect.”
Charlie grinned as I got him situated in his booster seat. “We should add rocket launchers so it’s really a batmobile.”
“I’ll make sure to add that to the list.”
“Yes!” he whisper-shouted as he bounced in his seat.
I made my way around to the driver’s door and climbed in. I tried my best to listen to Charlie talk about his day while paying close attention to the road, traffic, and Aspen. Luckily, Charlie didn’t need much prodding to keep chatting.
Aspen’s house was somewhat in the same direction as Lawson’s; you just turned off on a different road. The lane quickly turned to gravel, and I spotted an adorable farmhouse in the distance. As we got closer, I saw it needed a little work, but the bones were great, and it had an amazing front porch.
A truck was parked in front of it with an emblem for Washington Fish and Wildlife, along with another SUV with no moniker, but I didn’t see anyone in sight. I followed Aspen’s lead and parked next to her station wagon.
The moment the engine was off, Charlie was unbuckling himself. “Can I get out? Can I?”
“Wait just a second. This car is pretty high.” The last thing I wanted was for Charlie to fall and break a bone.
“Hurry!” he pleaded.
My lips twitched as I climbed out and rounded the vehicle. I quickly lifted Charlie down, but he was already running toward a pasture where two donkeys and a herd of goats grazed. As I turned around, I came face-to-face with a massive man, maybe half an inch shorter than Lawson and slightly broader. They had similar features, but this guy’s hair was lighter, and his expression was definitely less welcoming.
I instinctively took a step back, tripping over my feet and nearly falling. I managed to save myself by grabbing the SUV’s side mirror.
The man’s eyes narrowed on me, but then a ball of motion hurtled itself at him. “Daddy!”
The man’s face completely changed as he caught Cady in mid-jump. “There’s my Tiny Dancer. I thought you ditched me to join the circus.”
