“So where are we going?” I ask.
“Oh, just you wait,” Jackson says.
We buckle up, and Jackson drives the not-even-a-mile distance to The Hungry Walleye.
“The Hungry Walleye? That’s our big outing?” I laugh.
“Wait for it,” he says, holding up his hand in mock seriousness.
“Okay,” I say sarcastically.
Do siblings ever act like adults with each other? I keep waiting for it to happen with Jackson and me, but so far, it hasn’t taken. I’ll be shocked if it ever does.
We walk into the restaurant, and I grin at Jackson and Dove walking hand in hand in front of Camden and me.
“They’re actually kind of cute together,” I whisper.
He nods. “I like her more than I expected to.”
“Me too. I’m relieved.”
He lifts his eyebrows in agreement, and I walk under his arm when he holds the door open for me.
“Bob! Helen!” Jackson yells like he hasn’t seen the owners in years.
Bob comes over and shakes Jackson’s hand, and then says hello to the rest of us.
“I’ve got everything all set up,” he says.
I frown. “Our table?” I look around, and hardly anyone is here. Since I didn’t leave work until after the lunch rush and we ended up eating at Camden’s house after that, The Hungry Walleye is quiet.
“Something better,” Jackson says excitedly.
Bob motions for us to follow him, and we go into the room that’s usually used for parties or large groups.
I’ve been to the party room more times than I can count over the course of my life. I’ve seen it with a variety of tables, different chairs and tablecloths and paint…but I have never seen it look anything close to the way it does now.
Helen comes up to stand next to me and smiles proudly.
“What…have you done?” I ask, eyes wide.
“Isn’t it something?” she says.
There are two dartboards at the end of the room, and a line of axes next to us. A cage is between the other side of the room, dividing the dartboards from each other.
“Bob saw this in the Twin Cities, and he decided to bring it to Windy Harbor. I think we can use a little excitement around here…especially in the winter. I’ve never been big on skiing,” she explains.
“Me either,” I tell her. “But I can’t say I’ve ever tried throwing an axe either.”
“You’re gonna love it,” Jackson says.
Dove and I look at each other doubtfully.
“Come on, Camden and I can show you how it’s done, right, Cam?” Jackson smiles at Camden with that competitive gleam he’s always had when it comes to the two of them. “Have you done this yet?”
“No, I haven’t,” Camden says. “Other than chopping wood for the fire, I haven’t thrown axes.” He looks at me and grins. “This should be fun.”
“Mm-hmm.” My voice rises at the end, and I bite my lip, wondering how the hell I’m gonna get an axe all the way over there.
