Olivia smiled as she climbed out of the car, her cheeks flushed.“Hi.”
Nash’s smile was automatic, and probably as wide as his kid’s.“Hi.I’m glad you made it.”
Her skin flushed more deeply, and he realized he’d saidIand notwe.Correcting would only bring attention to the slip, so he ignored it.
Charlie raced around the car and waved at the toddler.“Hi, Ella Mae.It’s Charlie.Do you remember me?”
When Olivia opened the door, Ella squealed and waved her hands.“I’d say she remembers.She’s happy to see you.”
Olivia lifted the girl and held her in her arms.Charlie took her hand and squeezed it.“Hi, Ella.We’ve got lots of snow here, too.We can make another snowman if you like.Do you like dogs?”
He looked up at Olivia.“Is she okay with dogs?There are three here, although Fox doesn’t always come to meet strangers.They’re all nice dogs.”
Olivia smiled.“I don’t know that she’s been up close with a lot of dogs, but I bet she’ll like them.”
The weird phrasing had Nash on alert.Why wouldn’t she know?Obviously Ella’s father was out of the picture, but surely, she would know if he’d had a dog.
Unless his instincts were right and she was on the run from an abusive ex.Things to find out.
Not that it was any of his business, but he would keep his ears and eyes open for other signs.Especially if the man was dangerous.
He hoped he was overreacting.“Can I bring in your bag for you?”
She smiled as she carried the squirmy toddler around the car.“Thanks.I don’t want to set her down this close to the vehicles.”
Nash nodded and grabbed the baby bag Olivia had toted around with her to the diner the other day.He remembered how much stuff babies required.Diapers, bottles, food, wipes, extra clothes, creams.The bag always weighed more than the kid.
When Charlie had been born, Nash had opted for a backpack instead of a bag like this one.He’d been used to carrying his army paraphernalia on his back.The weight of the baby items hadn’t been nearly as heavy as the grief, or his determination to make Charlotte proud and raise Charlie to be a great human being.
Watching Charlie lead the way to the back porch of the farmhouse where they lived, he realized his kid was on the brink of being a teen.God help him.
Thankfully, Charlie was an innately good kid.He’d likely get himself into a wide variety of scrapes over the next decade, but Nash figured a lot of them would be out of a desire to help someone else.The rest would be because he was a normal kid who loved to try new things and adventures.
It was going to be a hell of a ride.
When they reached the fresh stretch of snow beyond the porch, Ella waved her arms, kicked her legs, and squealed repeatedly.
Laughing, Olivia set her down on her feet.“Down?Is that what you said?Do you want down to play in the snow?”
Ella grinned at her mama and reached down to touch the snow.Olivia was ready when she overbalanced and helped her sit on her butt.
Jolie tapped Gray’s arm and took the bag.“I’ll set this in the kitchen for you.You play with your friends.”
Nash grinned at his buddy’s sister, wondering how much she was reading into the attraction that arced between him and Olivia.
Charlie sat beside the little girl and started making her snowballs to drop.Their laughter soothed some of the rough edges away from his heart.He was such a good kid.He knew Charlotte would approve.
Nash had actively thought about his wife more since meeting Olivia than he had in years.Charlotte was always part of him, but she wasn’t always in the forefront.Time did heal wounds enough for you to breathe.
And move forward?
When Olivia squatted down to play with the two kids, he shoved aside his worries.For now, he would focus on playing with the kids and getting to know Olivia.
When Jolie reemerged from the house, she was with Ford.The two had fallen in love when they’d both arrived on the farm.From everything Nash could see, it was good for them both.Ford and Knox had worked together overseas, and Ford had moved north to help his buddy with the farm.
Like Nash himself.
After they’d built a snowman, Jolie suggested they go down to the pond to see the ducks.
