No doubt they were sisters. Same don’t-mess-with-me eyes.
“Hi,” Sam said.
She gave me a quick once-over. Pretty sure I’d been sized up and sorted in record time.
“Hi and congrats. Big stuff,” I managed.
“Thanks,” she replied easily, then crouched down to Cassy. “Hi there.”
Cassy looked up, mouth rimmed in a cute, sticky strawberry mess. “Hi!”
Sam laughed, fished a tissue from her bag, and wiped Cassy’s face, all calm precision. The doctor in her was showing without trying.
If I ever choke on a gummy bear, I hope she’s nearby.
“Thanks,” I said.
“No problem,” she replied, standing up.
We moved farther from the truck, late-May sun easing off as it dipped behind the tall trees lining the park. Shadows stretched long over the grass. A couple of kids darted between picnic blankets, their parents pretending not to be watching. Behind us, Cassy walked slowly and carefully, guarding that ice cream from falling.
“Want to sit?” I asked Mel, nodding toward a nearby bench.
She glanced at Sam, who shrugged. “Sure.”
We sat. Cassy eventually flopped at the edge, stuck in her own sugar-filled world. For a beat, we ate ice cream in silence, watching people mill about in the park, the sound of laughter and distant conversations a soft backdrop. It was comfortable sitting near Mel, making me forget there was anything serious to talk about between us.
“So, Sean, what do you do besides babysit your...?” Sam asked.
“My niece,” I supplied, scooping a bite. “Coach a hockey team.”
Sam’s spoon paused midair. Mel kept her eyes superglued on her cup, radiating ‘don’t look at me.’
“Good to finally put a face to the mysterious rescuer. Thanks for taking my sister home,” Sam added with the glee of a cat who’d found the cream.
Mel shot her a glare, as if she might flick her forehead. Oh, the sisterly love! I smirked, enjoying the show.
“Uncle Sean,” Cassy piped up, startling me. “You rescued her?”
I flinched. I thought her brain was happily lost in the strawberry swirl.
Sam chuckled, then stood and looked at me. “Do you mind if I take her to the restroom?”
I nodded. “Go ahead.”
“Come on, Cassy. Let’s go clean up and take a restroom break.”
“Yeah, I gotta pee so bad.”
I blinked.How did Sam know Cassy needed to pee?I watched them walk toward the park restrooms, leaving me alone with Mel. I gave it a moment, eyes on my nearly emptied ice cream cup.
Then, “So…that kiss last weekend, not standard workplace stuff.”
Her head snapped toward me. “That’s what you’ve got?” she said tightly. “You think that’s my problem right now? That kiss is a vacation compared to the crap going on.”
“Hell. What did I say?”
I gazed at her. The pulse in her throat flickered fast. Sunlight caught the fine hair falling along her jaw. Her eyes, usually warm, had that glassy shine people get when they’re already three disasters ahead.
