Gracie sighed. “Or…she’s pregnant and plans to seduce him and make him think the baby is his.”
“Or that,” he agreed.
They sat in silence as the van rumbled down the highway.
“I don’t know what to do,” she finally said, clearly struggling in the very way Red had wanted to avoid.
“Benny wanted to stick Bigfoot on her,” he muttered.
“You told this to Benny?” she asked, aghast.
“No, no, no. But Benny’s smart and he talks to Olivia, and they think she wants to get back in Marshall’s good graces, maybe get him to leave and move to California and be a family again. Or Bianca would move here. Benny thinks she’s going to ruin everything.”
“She could. Benny is right. What’s this about…did you say Bigfoot?” She gave a quick laugh. “And why am I not surprised?”
“He said she’s afraid of wildlife, so he was thinking he’d scare her out of town. Raccoons, bears, or…”
“Bigfoot,” Gracie finished. “It would probably get rid of her.” She started laughing and threw him a look. “It’s so something you and that kid would do together.”
“I’ll have you know that I put the old kibosh on Bigfoot,” Red said proudly. “Bein’ the responsible adult and strong male authority in his life, I figured it was best.”
She smiled. “That you are, and I’m grateful for it.”
Red blew out a breath. “I’m getting old for that job, Gracie. My days…are numbered.”
“Stop it,” she said, all humor gone from her voice. “Don’t even say that, Red.”
“You know it’s gonna happen sooner or later.”
“Later,” she whispered. “Much, much later. You’re going to see Benny graduate from high school, college, and win the Nobel prize in physics.”
He wanted to chuckle at that, but the moment felt too serious.
“Look, honey.” He leaned over the console to make his point. “I’m fine with whatever the good Lord decides for me. The fact is, I am the man in that kid’s life and in all my years, I’ve never loved a role more.”
“You’re sweet, Red.”
“I’m a lot of things, Gracie, but sweet ain’t one of ’em. Anyway, I want a good man in your life—for youandBenny. I think Marshall is a fine candidate for the job. So this woman is really upsetting the apple cart and she’s dangerous and I don’t like her.”
“Neither do I,” Gracie said, turning off the highway to Eagle Mountain, the lights of the valley twinkling below as the van wound down the snowy mountain road.
The world outside glowed with Christmas magic—frosted trees, soft snowfall, car headlights weaving through the night.
As they pulled into the GBVI parking area, Red reached over and patted her hand.
“What are you going to do?” he asked. “Tell all this to Marshall?”
She shrugged. “I guess—I’m not sure. I don’t know what else to do.”
“There’s always Bigfoot,” Red joked.
She eyed him suspiciously. “You’re kidding, right?”
“You can never know with me, can you?”
“Nope. But I love you.” She gave him a warm look, then hugged him. “And no man could ever be a better role model for Benny. I mean that.”
He held onto the words, feeling the weight of the secret leaving his shoulders, and his heart…well, the old ticker felt good and strong for the first time in a few weeks.
