The door swung back open just as he responded without thinking. "You're damned right you do."
"That's rude," Londyn chastised as she stomped her little foot. "You don't cuss at her. That's mean."
"Londyn!" Valerie hissed. "That's enough. It's okay. Ty is an old friend."
"Londyn?" Tyson squeaked out. "You named your daughter after..." He couldn't finish his sentence.
"That's my name. Londyn. L-o-n-d-y-n. Mommy spelled it special because she wanted a 'y' in it."
He stared openly at Valerie, unable to formulate a sentence.
Valerie let out a sigh. "Go back out with Ms. Vinia, please… We were having a conversation."
"She told me to tell you to hurry up. Everyone's waiting." She disappeared through the doorway.
Tyson held up his arms in question. "You named your daughter Londyn? After our trip?"
He watched as tears welled in Valerie's eyes. "I had to do something to keep your memory alive. And with the special spelling in your honor."
"I don't understand, Val. Keep our memory alive? You're the one who left."
"And it can wait until after all the food is gone," Vinia ordered from the door. "You two have a lot to talk about, I get it. But not while everyone is sitting out here waiting to eat. And certainly not while you're being rude in front of a little girl."
Tyson groaned. "I didn't mean to cuss when she came back out here."
"Either way, you two need to take your places at the table." Vinia let the door close behind her.
"What are you doing here, Valerie?" That was the main question he wanted to know.
She stared at him sadly. "That story is almost as long as why I left."
"After we eat," Vinia insisted as she called out to them.
Without another word, they both went and took their seats at the table. Valerie was introduced to Ellie, Colton's new wife, and the food was passed around just like old times.
Londyn fidgeted in her seat after she finished eating. "You guys eat slow."
"Shh," Valerie warned. "Now you're being rude."
Tyson laid his fork down. "I'm done."
All the rest of the diners followed his lead. Tyson winked at Londyn. "I'm all ears about this elephant thing. You have truly captured my imagination."
Vinia's brows shot up. "Elephant?"
Tyson smiled at her as his brothers grinned. "Yes, Mother. It appears that you told our young guest here that your boys could get her an elephant if she asked nicely enough."
"Oh, Lord."
Londyn took that as her cue. She held up Elfred, even though Tyson couldn't figure out where the stuffed animal had been hiding. "This is Elfred. And he needs a friend. And I promise that if you bring me an elephant and put it in that field right there," she turned and pointed to a specific fenced in area, "I'll be able to see it from our cabin, and I can feed it and keep it company, and I'll be the one in charge of its training."
Colton snickered. "An elephant. You know how to train an elephant?"
"If I have any questions, I can call Sheila."
Logan glanced at Vinia. "Sheila at the zoo?"
Vinia nodded. "One and the same. Miss Londyn here met her on their way in. Sheila made quite an impression."
