“How can you tell?” Shawn asks.
“Just an educated guess. She’s a firecracker.”
“There may be one of mine in there as well,” Sara says bashfully.
“Well,” Shawn says. “I'd better go assist.”
He jogs over to join the pile and is quickly overwhelmed by yelling, overexcited kids.
“Rex,” Scarlett says.
“Don’t look at me,” he says, pulling back in mock offence. “Jarrod’s not in there.”
“Probably is,” she replies.
“I need to stay next to you,” Rex says, leaning over and rubbing her huge belly. “What if you need something?”
“That’s a decent excuse,” she laughs, kissing him. “I’ll let you get away with it—this time.”
They kiss each other, and Rex wraps his arms around her, snuggling her so she can lean on him. Trix approaches from the nearby bonfire, her white dress glowing in the dark.
“Hi,” she says, smiling shyly. “I was wondering if—”
“You want to hold Faith?” Grace asks, slipping her dress back onto her shoulder. “She’s nice and full now, ready for a good nap.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t mind if she were fussy,” Trix says, sitting down and holding out her arms. “She’s just the sweetest, even on her worst day.”
“Remember that when she turns three,” Grace warns. “Or better yet, thirteen. Honestly, though, Trix, you’re the best babysitter ever.”
“Well, you know I can’t have any of my own,” she says, rocking Faith. “So, it’s my absolute pleasure.”
Grace gives her friend a hug, then turns to me with a sly smile I know all too well.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” she asks.
I shrug. “Where to?”
“Oh, you know. Around.”
“The bonfire? The band? Drinks?”
Grace bats her lashes, looking up at me from underneath them, and bites her lip.
“Oh,” I say. “That kind of walk.”
“Good God, man,” Rex mutters. “Get out of here before I punch you again.”
“No thanks!” I laugh as Grace takes my hand to lead me away. “My jaw was swollen for a week.”
“Yeah, well, I almost broke my hand.”
“Serves you right!” I yell over my shoulder.
Grace squeezes my hand, then lets go and runs ahead of me into the woods. The trees beyond the circle have grown tall, with incredibly thick trunks and long grass that spreads all the way to the nearby peaks, as if the presence of Sakesh had stunted them and now they’re making up for lost time.
I run through the grass, suddenly realizing I can’t see her. A faint flicker of fear runs through me, then I hear her light footsteps on the grass behind me.
Before she can pounce, I spin around, grabbing her waist and tackling her to the ground. I wrap her in my arms as we go down, shielding her from the fall.
