“Hey.” He beamed a little.
“Hey. Do you mind if Payton delivers this to Tommy over there?” I asked, pointing toward the road to the barns.
“Oh, Dad, can I?” Payton asked, excited as hell.
Crew’s beaming reached astronomical levels. “Sure. Just come right back, okay?”
Payton handed his bucket to Crew, then grabbed the bag very carefully and dashed off.
“Dad, huh?” I asked.
Crew grinned. “Yeah. It’s new.”
“I figured. I asked.”
We chuckled, because Crew immediately knew I’d gotten a thorough explanation.
“Mal almost ready?” he asked, watching Payton’s progress like the parent he now was.
“Yeah. Wy and I are grabbing food and then going to move the horses.”
“Good. Well, good luck with it!” He clapped my shoulder, which seemed to be the go-to gesture of the men in my family today.
I grabbed a couple of hotdogs and scarfed them down, then had my coffee and churro while walking around a little more.
People were having a good time already.
When I spotted Mom behind the food trucks, I headed her way. She was talking to one of the vendors and the conversation ended just in time for me to get to her.
“Oh hey, sweetheart,” she said as she turned around. “Everything good with your part?”
I nodded, mouth full of churro. I swallowed, then took a sip of coffee. “At least when I left to eat, yeah.”
“Your man has been such a help.” She smiled in that gentle kind of “you’ve done good” way she sometimes did when she was extra pleased.
I smiled back and felt a buzz of happiness within me.
“I’m so happy for you,” Mom said, then quickly hugged me. “He fits in, just like Mal.”
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind as soon as she let go, and I couldn’t help the pleasant shiver that went through me.
“What are we talking about?” Carter asked, then chuckled as I offered the last bit of the churro over my shoulder to him.
She looked at us and I could see her eyes glistening just a little. “Just that he chose good.”
“Oh.” For once, Carter was a bit speechless.
I patted his hand that rested over my stomach. “I’d say so.”
Someone called Mom away, and she walked a few steps, then stopped to halfway turn around. Before she could speak, Carter said, “I know. I’m keeping an eye on the clock!”
She waved her hand dismissively, laughed, and walked away.
“What are you doing later?” I asked.
“For some reason, Aria wants to hang out with me. So I’m tagging along with her, Demi, and Luke for trunk or treating.”
I blinked at him. “What?”
