A Great Pyrenees lived out on the property and didn’t like the indoors.He figured they’d meet Fox later.The name made Nash smile as it was also the name of the Malssum’s grandfather.The man had raised them after the deaths of their parents and had been a big influence on the five siblings.
The man who’d left them the farm had been Fox’s estranged brother.None of the siblings had known he existed until they’d inherited the place.
He knew there was some mystery around the estrangement, but it wasn’t his place to pry.
Amber, the quietest of the Malssums, noticed him and Charlie as soon as the door swung inward.She smiled and that smile widened as Charlie moved to the dogs.“Good morning.”
That caused everyone to turn in their direction and wave.Knox flipped over another pancake.“I hope you brought your appetites.Normally we all eat on our own for breakfast, but we thought your first morning warranted pancakes.
Charlie looked up.“That’s awesome.I just asked Dad if we could make some.”
Jolie grinned.“Knox is the pancake master.We’ve got some plain ones, others with blueberries and apples.”
Charlie’s eyebrows shot up.“I’ve never had apple pancakes.”
Knox pointed with his spatula.“Prepare yourself for awesomeness.We use our own apples, and they’re the best in the universe.”
Charlie laughed and bounced up to see what everyone was up to.Gray handed Nash a mug filled with steaming dark roast.“He do okay through the night?”
Nash nodded as he sipped.“He did.I didn’t see him until a few minutes ago.”
Gray grinned.“Good.He’s going to love this place.”
“I think he already does.He’s been lonelier than I knew.He’s talking a lot more than he has been recently.”
Gray nodded.“That’s a good sign.”
“Until your ears start to bleed with all the questions.”
His buddy laughed.“Not a chance.It’s going to be a blast to have a kid here.”
Nash recognized the tone.“You thinking about adding to the crew?”
Gray laughed.“Not just yet, but not too far down the road either.Amber will be an amazing mom.”
“It’ll be the scariest thing you’ve ever done.And the absolute best.”
Gray clinked his mug with his own.“I can’t wait.”
Over breakfast, they talked about how the work on the farm would change with the recent snow.Snow that might melt but would likely stick around for the next four months.
He nudged Charlie.“Four months of the white stuff.How long before you want to run screaming for a beach?”
Charlie laughed.“Never.I like the beach, but I think the snow is going to be just as awesome.It’ll be neat to have different seasons.Then we can’t get sick of any of them.”
Thea leaned forward.“I’ve been thinking of buying cross-country skis.It would be a great way to keep an eye on the orchard.Does that sound like something you’d like to try?”
To no one’s surprise, Charlie’s eyes lit up.“That would be cool.I’d like to try that.I’ve watched people do it in the Olympics.Downhill would be fun to try one day, too.”
The talk turned to other winter fun, and Nash figured he’d be buying skis and skates for Christmas.It sounded awesome.
Olivia woke to find Ella Mae playing with her stuffed dragon in her toddler bed.The dragon wasn’t based on the ones in Olivia’s books, but she figured it was never too early to introduce Ella to dragons.
If she had any drawing skills, she’d make her a dragon baby book.But art wasn’t in Olivia’s wheelhouse.
It still surprised and shocked her that her desire to escape into fictional worlds had turned into a career.Until she’d met Mary Mae, she’d spent most of her hours lost in books.Ones she read and others she created in her head.
She’d never had her own laptop until she’d saved enough money to buy a used one, so she’d never risked putting her stories down in words.That hadn’t occurred until they’d moved out of the group home.
