Charlie nodded.“I can hang out with her.I’ve got lots of books, so I won’t be loud.”
Yep.Amazing kid.Which said a ton about his dad.And mother?
Stifling her curiosity, Olivia picked up Ella.Nash was there in an instant.“Why don’t I carry her back for you?Give you a bit of a break?”
Wow.No one else had held Ella since her parents had been killed.Just Olivia.
Was she ready to share her?She knew he’d keep her safe.There was no way this was some elaborate plan concocted by Adam to steal the girl.
Some of her thoughts must have shown in her face because Nash smiled softly.“It’s okay.I didn’t mean to be pushy.”
She smiled.“You’re not being pushy.I’m just used to doing things on my own.Let’s see how she reacts to you.”
Nash held out his hands.“Hi, Ella.Would you like to come with me?We’ll keep close to your mama.”
Ella didn’t hesitate.She leaned forward into his hands with a smile.
Olivia’s heart lurched and the flash of jealousy surprised her.She’d been Ella’s whole world for months now.
But that wasn’t healthy for a toddler.She needed to learn to trust others and wouldn’t do that if Olivia didn’t.
Trusting Nash with her precious girl was easy.And hard.This was a new stage for them both.
Jolie and Ford left with Hemsworth to work on some projects in his barn, which was further to the north on the property.She and the others only had to follow their steps through the orchard to find their way back to the farmhouse.
The trees seemed to stretch forever in all directions.“This place is huge.”
Nash nodded.“Sure is.They took Charlie and me on a tour yesterday.There are barns, cabins, and sheds, but you can also feel like you’re in the middle of the wilderness when you can’t see any of them.”
Olivia watched Ella Mae snuggle into Nash’s chest with another yawn.He wasn’t using the carrier as he’d said she’d nap better in his arms.
Olivia believed it.She was pretty sure it would be the same for her.
Charlie helped keep the conversation easy and her thoughts away from being snuggled in Nash’s arms as they walked.
Charlie pointed to the side.“We think we’ll use the cabin back there for our cider-making center.”
Nash nodded.“It looks like it’ll be perfect.It’s got plumbing and electricity.We should be able to experiment with small batches to find out our favorite recipes.”
“That sounds fun.”
Charlie grinned.“It does.Why don’t you help us?It’s going to be a lot of work for two.”
An image of working side by side on a project with Nash filled her with excitement.“That sounds wonderful, but I thought it was a family business.”
Charlie laughed.“It could be a family and friends’ business.Dad always says that good friends are family too.He says the people he worked with in the army became another kind of family for him.And that’s how we ended up here in Vermont.To help his other family build their business.You could be part of our family.”
The innocent words of the boy had Olivia’s feet stumbling.She righted herself as Nash’s arm reached out for her even as his other kept Ella safe and secure.
Olivia’s eyes caught Nash’s and for a moment she was sure she saw the need she felt echoed in his.
Need for a family.
For love.
For a place to belong.
Was Charlie right?Could she find all of that here?
