“Oh. You didn’t want to come and say hello?” Usually, she can’t wait to see Cole when he comes to pick her up for visits.
She shakes her head and I don’t blame her. I’m sure that man didn’t look happy fromanyangle last night.
“Are you and Grandpa fighting?”
“No,” I answer quickly. “No. Grandpa, well .?.?. he’s just very sad right now. And .?.?. maybe a little lonely. Sometimes when you lose someone, you—” I’m about to tell her you go into a dark place and forget everything that matters—but I settle for something she might understand. “You forget who you are, the things that matter.”
She furrows her brows. “I miss Grandma, too. Am I going to forget whoIam?”
“No.” I chuckle. “No, you’re not going to forget who you are. You see, Grandpa and Grandma have been together for a long time. He doesn’t know who he is without her. But the good news is that he’ll come around.” I straighten. “Until he does .?.?. I need to make sure you’re safe with me.”
She nods like she’s slowly understanding. “If that’s not the other thing, then what is?”
My eyes lift to the redhead standing in the archway of the kitchen. Her brown eyes pool—she shines in this light. Hell, I’m pretty sure she’d shine in any light.
I nod my head and Ellie turns, a knowing smile as her eyes meet Willow’s. “Hi, Willow.”
She’s not .?.?. surprised?
I try to search for any other reaction. Anger? Disappointment? No. She justknewWillow was still here.
And seems to be all right with it.
When we got back last night, we briefed Dad and Ginger on Willow hanging out for a bit. That’s how I put it. “She’s going to hang out for a bit.” Because I didn’t know what else to say. Everyone in the room knew why. And everyone agreed it was for the best she does.
Ellie was already asleep—safe and warm in her bed. Apparently Ginger sent Dad out last night to grab a couple of space heaters from the ranch office. They set one up in Ellie’s room and one in mine. I felt awful for running out on her, missing tucking her in during my last effort to chase Willow out of town.
But Dad reassured me all that mattered was that I brought her back—and that Ellie is much safer for it.
Willow’s knowing smirk right back to my little girl now has my head spinning.
“You two run into each other while I was asleep or something?” I ask.
Ellie shakes her head and wiggles a pink-covered foot toward Willow. “I knew you were here when I found my slippers next to my bed this morning.”
Willow steps in, keeping her distance on the opposite side of the island. “Found one in the upstairs bathroom last night and went on a hunt for the other.”
Ellie turns to me. “I like my slippers.”
I know that.I almost say defensively.
Of course I know that. Ellie’s always wearing something on her feet. Socks, booties Maya made her, and those pink fuzzy slippers that I keep seeing everywhere.
But I don’t need another competition where my daughter’s concerned, I remind myself. It’s a good thing she likes Willow.
I think.
I perk a brow. “Take it that’s where your nickname came from?”
Ellie’s curls bounce as she bobs her head. “Willow was sleeping in your bedroom at Uncle Wilder’s, and my slippers were in there. But Rose said not to go wake her friend because she’s not pretty in the morning. But then Willow opened the door, stuck her hand out, and dropped them out in the hall for me,” Ellie exclaims, like she’s retelling the most incredible story. “She put them by my bed every day since—she says it’s so I don’t wake her again.”
My brows rise. “Ah, so there was an agenda.”
Ellie blinks. “I don’t know, but Rose says she needs, like, a lot of coffee before we’re allowed to talk to her.”
“Don’t I know it,” I grumble. “Suppose we should hurry before she swipes those slippers off your feet.” I step back and Ellie jumps off and beelines to Willow.
“Are you staying for a long time?”
