Some Bright Someday (Maple Valley #2) - Melissa Tagg Page 0,24
and therefore not as privileged as Flynnie, who apparently enjoyed free rein of the orchard grounds.
“Mr. Danby, good afternoon—well, almost evening.” If Mayor Milt was annoyed at being interrupted, he didn’t show it as he returned his attention to Jenessa. “Perhaps we can continue this discussion another time, Ms. Belville? It’s not only the house we need to talk about. Surely you remember that Founder’s Day is on the horizon.”
Founder’s Day? But why would he want to talk . . . oh. Good grief, he didn’t have some notion of resurrecting the old Founder’s Day Gala Mom used to throw, did he? Mom had spent months planning those things.
“Mayor Milt, I hope you’re not thinking—”
He gave her a jolly shake of his head. “Another time.”
She’d argue but knew Mayor Milt well enough to know he’d track her down regardless. She glanced at Lucas as the mayor strolled away, moving a squirming Cade to her other hip. “You should really have a white horse when you do stuff like that.”
“I wasn’t riding to your rescue, Ms. Belville.” He copied the mayor’s address, only the faintest circles under his eyes giving away what must’ve been an incredibly short night of sleep last night. “Just providing a timely interruption.”
Violet was back to petting Flynnie. “So this is a pet? Interesting. Most guys opt for flowers or chocolate.” She bent to let Cade get a closer look at the animal.
“Beckett’s not most guys. Where’s the oldest girl?”
“Colie Hollis is not exactly my greatest fan.” She let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Refused to budge from the car.”
“So I guess you never got ahold of DHS?”
She nodded. “Sam’s not happy. But I don’t know what else he wants me to do at this point. Other than take care of them until I can call the office number on Monday. And maybe give them some fun weekend memories in the meantime. What’s so wrong with that?” She straightened, lifting Cade with her.
“Not a thing.”
There was something reassuring about Lucas’s presence. Always had been. Did he realize that? “That’s why I borrowed a minivan and brought them here. Well and because, I know I said thank you in a text, but—”
He held up one hand. “Jen, you don’t have to.”
“You fixed the window. You killed the bat. You carried a thousand boxes to the attic and the garage and wherever else they all ended up.”
“There’s a few in the basement.” He seemed almost embarrassed as he rubbed his chin and looked away. “All I did was clear out some space. And I was just doing what anyone would—”
“No, not anyone would do it, and you need to stop interrupting me. Just stand there and let me thank you and take it like a man.”
He laughed. “Fine, then. You’re welcome. Again.”
Violet’s squeal cut in. “He nicked me. He nicked me.”
Jenessa jostled Cade. “Do you think she means nipped or licked?”
“Maybe both. Hey, want to feed the goats, Violet?”
Violet looked to Lucas, her expression turning shy. Did she recognize him from the hallway last night or had she been too drowsy to take much notice of him then? He pulled a quarter from his pocket and moved to a glass case packed with dried corn, slipped the coin in, and turned the crank.
Jenessa watched as he knelt next to Violet and opened his palm. She cast him another shy smile before plucking a handful of corn from his fingers. He stayed beside her for another minute or two, pointing out his favorite of the goats—a black and white kid less than a month old—and showing her how to scratch between its ears.
When he stood again, he must’ve caught her stare. “What?”
“You’re good with her.” And how had she never noticed before the way the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled? Were his smiles really that rare?
They shouldn’t be. The one he wore now lit up his sandstone irises.
“Any chance you’d be willing to watch both of them for a minute while I check on Colie?”
“Of course.” He held out his hands and she handed Cade over.
And for a moment both delightful and somehow poignant, she observed their first interaction—Lucas figuring out how to fit the nine-month-old against him, Cade lifting one pudgy hand to touch Lucas’s cheek. “I think something’s happening to me, Lucas.”
“What’s that?”
“These kids, I just . . . I don’t know. Once at lunch today, I looked over at Vi and she was chewing with her mouth open, and for some reason I thought