She fished for her phone, somewhere in the bowels of a designer bag. “Get your things, honey. We need to leave. Now.”
Olivia looked torn, wide-eyed, and so uncomfortable.
“What?” Bianca snapped, loud enough that both dogs sat up, alert. “This is my holiday with you. You’re in my custody and shouldn’t even be here. I’m taking you home and I don’t want an argument. And you”—she pointed at Marshall—“can’t stop me.”
“Not legally,” he said. “But is this really what you want to do?”
“No,” she shot back. “I want to sleep here, safe and spider-free.”
Gracie expected him to cave, but Marshall stood his ground, shaking his head.
“Mom, I don’t want to go! Dad, please don’t make me. This is fun.”
Marshall let out a noisy sigh. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. We’ll finish the tree tomorrow. You go with your mom.”
Olivia grunted, obviously not getting what she wanted.
Then Benny straightened up, puffing out his chest. “I’ll come, too.”
Gracie blinked. “You will?”
“Yeah. I’m, like, the best spider-finder in Utah. I can totally clear the cabin and maybe Olivia can come back after.”
“I think it’ll be too late, honey,” Gracie said.
“Well, that’s fine,” Benny replied. “I can kill a spider with my eyes closed.”
Gracie’s heart softened at her son’s earnest bravery and willingness to leave with Olivia. “Sweetie, that’s really kind of you.”
Bianca glared, then looked at her phone. “Well, the Uber can’t be here for forty minutes, so?—”
“So I’ll drive you and the kids back to the Lodge,” Gracie offered automatically.
“No,” Marshall said immediately, pulling out his own phone. “You’re staying. And on my app? The ride can be here in…four minutes. Probably the guy who just left.”
Bianca’s shoulders dropped, defeated. “Fine. Do I have time to use the bathroom or is that off-limits, too?”
“Help yourself,” he said, tapping his screen.
“Don’t order the ride,” Gracie said when Bianca stepped away. He looked up with a question in his eyes, but she shook her head. “I’ll drive everyone home.”
“No!” Olivia said. “I really wanted to finish the tree with you.”
“We will,” Gracie promised. “Tomorrow.”
“But I like tonight.” Olivia’s voice dropped so Bianca couldn’t hear. “Us being together. Like a…team.”
Gracie’s throat thickened. “Me, too.”
“Please, Dad. Tell her to take the Uber back and we can stay.”
He shook his head, looking as sad as his daughter. “She has legal rights and I can’t insist she leave you here.”
“Then I have to sleep in the room with the spider?”
Benny choked. “There are no spiders in the winter in Utah. I mean, it would be rare.”
“So she’s making it up,” Olivia said, and it wasn’t question.
