But I stopped with one look at Araceli.
“Baby, are you okay?” I asked.
“Don’t feel good, Tía Cassidy,” she murmured.
She could say that again. She looked pale but her cheeks were flushed and the deep pink was concerning.
“She has a bit of a fever,” Milagros explained. “A bad belly. I know John’s just back, Cassidy, and I’m sorry to ask, but—”
Before she could finish, or I could say a word, Deacon stated, “We got her.”
My eyes flew to him.
“I have a new client and I clean their house after the cabins. It’ll be hours,” Milagros said.
“We got her,” Deacon repeated.
God, I loved living on my warm, sweet, fluffy cloud.
Deacon crouched in front of Araceli. “You wanna watch movies?”
Bossy yapped her approval of this suggestion.
And the cloud got fluffier and sweeter.
Araceli nodded.
“You like Sprite?” he went on.
She nodded again.
“Okay, girl. You and Bossy go lie down on the couch. Cassie will set you up with a movie. I’ll go to the store and get you some Sprite. You like vanilla wafers?”
I stared at him, so warm and squishy it was a miracle I wasn’t goo on the floor, wondering if he was for real.
“I like ’nilla wafers,” she whispered.
“I’ll get some of those too,” Deacon told her. “Anything else?”
She shook her head.
“Right then, hit the couch, girl,” Deacon finished.
“Can I call Tía Cassidy Cassie too?” she asked and Deacon looked to me.
“Of course you can,” I said, moving forward as Deacon came out of his crouch. “Let’s get you settled.”
Deacon shifted out of the way as I put a hand to Araceli’s shoulder and gently turned her toward the door.
My eyes went to Milagros. “Got this, honey. You do what you have to do, take your time. We’re here when you’re done.”
Her eyes underlined the words she said. “Thank you, Cassidy.” She looked to Deacon. “You too, John.”
“Not a problem,” he rumbled.
I threw a smile over my shoulder at Milagros and guided Araceli to my living room.
We’d decided on a movie by the time Deacon walked Milagros out, went upstairs to get his keys and wallets, and came to us.