Ellis sprinkled some ash mixed with sand along the walkway as he and Zane headed back toward the house. “You listen to those girls talk—your sisters—and they would say that I’m the oldest man they’ve ever met.”
Zane laughed, the sound almost exactly like a honking goose. “Well, they don’t remember Grandpa very well. They don’t remember Pop at all. But I know better. You’re not old. Not that much older than Dad anyway.”
“Thanks, kiddo.” He looked up as Michael came pelting out of the house with Mavis, who had elected to stay inside where it was warm rather than be out where he had to chop ice.
“Can I go see the horses with you now, Ellis?”
“Sure bud, you got your muck boots on so you don’t slip and slide?” He had intended to go inside and thaw out, maybe have a cup of coffee before he went to the barn and did anything, but he supposed he could rearrange his schedule.
“Uh-huh. And you put down all the stuff so that we don’t fall, right?” Michael was so earnest staring at him with those big eyes.
Zane scoffed and headed inside, giving him a thumbs up. Ellis figured that amounted to what was a good talk with a teenager. It was better than a glare, for sure.
“Michael.” Ichabod stood in the doorway to the main house. “Let Ellis come in and warm up,” he said. “And when he’s ready to go to the barn, he’ll tell you. It’s not like you’re going anywhere today.” School had been cancelled, which took an awful lot in this area, but this ice storm was something else. It wasn’t even Thanksgiving, and they were socked in. It was kinda crazy.
“Aw, okay.” Michael traipsed back into the house, not terribly disappointed, and Mavis followed at his heels, ready to get back in there and lie down on her big pile of blankets. She was getting spoiled with all these babies.
Ellis stepped right up to give Ichabod a kiss. “Thanks, babe. That does me some good. I can use a cup of coffee and maybe a piece of toast or something. Breakfast was fine but it didn’t stick to my ribs this morning.”
“Mmm.” Ichabod felt him up a little bit. “I can tell. Your nose is all red and your lips are a little blue.”
“It is chilly out there.” He stomped out of his boots and shrugged his coat off. “The horses are all put away nice and happy, though, so we’re good to go.”
“Good deal. I can’t really work in the studio today. It’s too cold to pound clay, so I think I’ll check some emails and update my website. Maybe make a banana bread. We’ve got all the stuff for banana bread, and the kids like banana bread. What’syourposition on banana bread?” As Ichabod talked, he leaned in closer, eyebrows waggling, making Ellis chuckle.
“I am a huge fan. My mom’s housekeeper used to bring it to me all the time. Banana in the winter, zucchini in the summer.” That bread still made his mouth water.
“Excellent, I have an amazing recipe that was my granny’s. I’ll make two loaves.”
At his wide-eyed expression, Ichabod shrugged.
“If I don’t make two loaves, there won’t be enough for any of us to have a second slice.”
“Ooh! Banana bread with butter out of the oven!” Little Allie’s eyes lit up. “I love that.”
Ichabod gave him a glance as if to say, “See?”
Ellis snorted. “Who wants to help me mash bananas?” He washed up real good at the sink.
“Me me me!” Allie raised her hand, and little Chrissy did as well.
“Me too? Belly-Bell! Me too?”
Allie’s head tilted. “Who?”
“Bell!” Chrissy pointed to him. “Him’s our Bell!”
Allie grinned and nodded like that was that. “Okay. Belly-Bell, me and sister want to help.”
Ellis tilted his head. Belly-Bell, huh? He guessed it was better than them deciding to call him Ellie. He grinned. “Well get yourselves up to the table. Chrissy, you need a lift?”
“Uppies, Bell. Uppies.” She held her arms in the air to be picked up, and he scooped her into his arms as Ichabod chuckled.
“No, sister! Belly-Bell!” Allie giggled hard.
“Well, I hope you like nicknames.”
He shot Ichabod a grin. “Yeah, yeah, and apparently I need to ask you about your folks.”
