“It’s the training village across the tarmac,” Paige explained. “We use it for our tactical training.”
“Is it really houses?” Susan asked.
Paige shook her head. “No, just plywood facades. Some of them have rooms, but there isn’t any electrical or anything like that.”
Abby shrugged. “Sure.”
“Yes!” Sierra pumped her arm. “Can we do camouflage?”
“Ange, do you mind taking them down?” Graham asked.
“On it, boss. Come on, girls, let’s get gussied up. Will, you want to come too?”
Will nodded and Angie took his hand. “Let’s go.”
Hide-and-seek
Abby grinned when Olivia, Sierra, and Will returned from the building with Angie. The girls were dressed in dark green coveralls, rolled at the hems and sleeves, while Will wore a large black T-shirt over his clothes that hung past his knees. Their faces were covered in streaks of tan, brown, and black.
“We didn’t have any coveralls small enough to fit him,” Angie said. “But he wanted a ‘uniform’ to wear too.”
Will raised his hands like claws and roared.
Her mom pretended to clutch her chest. “Oh my goodness, you’re terrifying.”
“Ms. A, can you give me your number so I can send you the pics we took? Liv said she doesn’t have a phone,” Sierra said. “What’s up with that?”
“Sierra, that was rude,” Graham said.
“Sorry.” Sierra looked down and slid her phone into the pocket of her coveralls.
The gruffness of Graham’s voice made her want to apologize as well. “It’s okay. I’d planned on getting her a phone this weekend. We haven’t had a chance to get to the store yet. I’ll give you my number before we leave.”
“Okay.” Sierra still seemed subdued when Olivia slid her arm through hers and whispered something. Sierra grinned and they strolled off toward the village.
Warmth spread through Abby’s chest that had nothing to do with the late spring day. She wasn’t sure where Sierra lived most of the time since both Tinker and Graham had mentioned it was her week with Graham, but she hoped it was close enough that she and Olivia could continue their friendship. This was the first time she’d seen an honest smile on Olivia’s face. Having her own friends was what she needed to settle in. Abby made a note to ask Tinker about it later.
“Hide-and-seek! Hide-and-seek!” Will jumped up and down in front of them.
“Okay, little man.” Tinker bent so they were close to eye level. “You see that village over there?”
Will looked in the direction Tinker nodded. “Yeah.”
“Do you think you can beat me there if we race?”
“Race!” Will took off, pumping his little legs for all he was worth.
Tink looked at Abby. “That little cheat.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his look of shock. “He’s faster than you’d think.”
“Gotta go.” He gave her a quick kiss and took off after Will.
Heat suffused her cheeks. She wasn’t sure if he’d given any thought to kissing her in front of his coworkers, and she felt them all staring at her. But when she looked around, it was only Angie and the tall woman, Samara, and they weren’t looking at her. The women hugged and Samara headed toward the building while Angie headed toward her.
“Samara isn’t playing hide-and-seek?” she asked.
Angie laughed. “No. And I quote: ‘Oh, honey, no. I don’t do dirt.’ You ready for hide-and-seek? I can’t remember the last time I played. The village is perfect for it, but they only ever use it for tactical training as far as I know. At least, no one has ever invited me to play hide-and-seek.”
