She blinked.
“Neighbors?” He tripped over his words, but didn’t look at her. “Temporarily.”
“If there’s anything I can do, I’m right on the other side of the fence.” She sounded sincere.
He nodded, his gaze shifting her way as she tucked a long thin braid of hair behind her ear.
“Well, on the other side of the fence, down the trail past the little creek and beeyard. You can’t miss the trail. Rebecca and I dug up the rocks and made the path together. Follow it all the way and I’m right there. Rather, our house is right there.” She moved her hands, pointing one way and then the other. “Not me, just standing there. That would be weird. But I guess that’s obvious?”
Charlie went through her words again. Even if he didn’t struggle with conversation, he wasn’t sure he’d know what to say to that. He didn’t spend much time with people—other than Nova and Halley. His work was entirely remote so he didn’t have to worry about these types of uncomfortable interactions. Astrid Hill’s lively sort of rambling left Charlie...baffled. “Right.” It was a neutral response.
Astrid blinked again, looking a bit baffled herself.
“We should go.” And yet, Charlie found himself staying put—watching Astrid Hill’s expressive face.
“I’m sure you have things to do.” Astrid’s smile gave off an almost tangible warmth.
He swallowed against the lump in his throat and went back to frowning. “Yes, I do.”
“Charlie.” Nova’s impatience was clear. “It’s hot. Are we going?”
Yes. Now.He nodded, turned and opened the back door of the car. Once Nova and Halley were safely inside, he climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb. He thought he saw Astrid Hill wave. He didn’t wave back.
“You are so weird,” Halley murmured, staring out the window.
Charlie glanced in his rearview mirror. “I’m not.”
Halley was wearing heryeah rightexpression. “You werewayharsh to Astrid. She didn’t do anything.”
“She’s pretty—fairy princess pretty, even. I like her hair. It was so long. Like Rapunzel.” Nova sighed, hugging Scorpio. “We made friends.”
Halley’s sigh wavered. “She was probably just being nice.”
Charlie agreed with Halley, but stayed quiet. The idea that Astrid Hill, an adult, would want to be friends with children was far-fetched. Especially children she wasn’t related to. Even then, there were no guarantees. He knew this because of the home he’d grown up in. Now that he was a stepfather, he wasn’t sure how to be their friendortheir parent. He was failing on all fronts.
“She wassopretty. I liked her flowy dress.” Nova wasn’t the least bit fazed by her sister’s statement. “And Miss Hill was nice. Like Mrs. Claus. Only with colored hair.” Her big brown eyes met his in the rearview mirror. “She did give us each one piece of candy.”
Nova was incapable of keeping a secret. Charlie hoped this was a permanent trait—it would make her teenage years much easier for him. “That was nice of her.”
Nova relaxed against the car seat and yawned. She’d been having bad dreams and a rough time sleeping since they’d moved into Rebecca’s house. “We said thank you.”
The girls had impeccable manners. Yasmina had been a stickler about that.
“I did try to tell you.” Halley continued looking out the window. “But you’re still mad.”
Charlie took a minute. He had to. He spent all day writing and thinking in code. Words didn’t come easy to him. “I was worried.”Worried sick. “I’m not angry.” He was too relieved to be angry. He glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “We need to work on...communicating.”
She glanced at him, her lips pressed tight—like she was holding something back.
Don’t ask. He’d handled himself well, so far. But he wasn’t sure that would continue if Halley dissolved into tears. He wasn’t trying to make her life miserable, he was...trying.
Halley didn’t see it that way. She’d start with everything that was wrong today before eventually circling around to them being here, him ruining her social life, and how Steve or Sam or Scott was the love of her life and she might lose him now that she wasn’t there. Because of him. It was easier not to say anything else until they’d turned off the farm-to-market road and onto the gravel drive leading to Rebecca’s house.
“You have to work?” Nova glanced up at him as they walked to the front porch.
Yes, he had to work. He’d lost the better part of the day looking for them. Dammit, he’d also missed a call that he shouldn’t have missed. But... He slowed, took a deep breath and really looked at Nova. Her curly ponytail was crooked, her shoes didn’t match and she was staring up at him, focused on his answer. “I can take a break.”
“You can?” Nova bounced up and down, gleeful. “Can we play a game? Please.”
