I glanced at him and stepped out of the way for the big horse to make his way outside.“Because I didn’t.”
“That terrified someone is going to steal your foal that you crashed in the barn?”
All I did was give him a look.
“Hi, Tom,” Francesca said, making her way over to Midnight, Raven, and Kenny’s stall.
“Hi, Francesca.”I stepped out of Galahad’s stall and followed Cameron and his daughter to the big stall.Together, we opened up the door at the back so Raven, Kenny, and Midnight could go enjoy the sunshine.
As if he had no recollection of yesterday’s trauma, Midnight took off into the small cordoned off field, running around and kicking his back feet in the air.
“Little guy seems no worse for wear,” Cameron remarked.
“Children are built to be resilient,” I said to him, earning a knowing look in return.
Francesca stepped out into the field with the three of them, giggling when Midnight started doing laps around her.
“How are you holding up?”Cameron asked me.
I shrugged.“Lawyers and police are doing their jobs.Security company is coming back today to tighten things up.Farrier and vet are coming too and will assess him.I don’t think he’ll need shoes yet, but I just want to cover my ass.”
“Makes sense.”He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, then glanced at me.“And how areyoudoing?”
All he got from me was some side-eye.“I didn’tintendto sleep in the barn.”
Cameron nodded.“Gotcha.Danica coming by later?”
I shrugged again.
That earned me a strange look.“You two okay?”
No idea.
“Emotions were probably really high yesterday.I think y’all just needed to sleep on it.”
Was that all it was?
“What kind of help do you need around here?I’ve got time.You should go eat.And maybe take a shower.”He made a face like I smelled awful, which I probably did.
“Just the stalls opened up.And eggs collected.Take them home with you.”
“Both barns?Basket on the front porch?”
“Si.”Then I hit him with a sincere look.“Grazie.”
Cameron’s smile was small, but knowing.“Prego, my friend.”I headed toward the door, but of course, he couldn’t leave it at just that.“One of these days, you’re going to have to accept that you’re an islander, you know?That we take care of our own, and we forgive pretty easily.Danica’s an islander too.”
I didn’t look back at him.I couldn’t.
Because he was right, but I just had no idea how to handle it.
Every day, Sam came to visit Raven and Midnight.
But every day, Maverick brought her.
Sure, it gave me an opportunity to get to know the young hockey player better, and even though I initially declined the invitation to go on his podcast with him, he wore me down by Thursday with all his positive golden retriever energy.
But every day, I held out hope that Danica would be the one to bring her daughter over.
