On the way to her parents, Trey turned to her. “Do you mind if we take a detour?”
She knew what time it was, but he wouldn’t have asked if it weren’t important. “That’s fine. Where to?”
“The old elementary school. A friend told me they saw a for sale sign, but I couldn’t find any records of the listing.”
“Interesting.” She didn’t understand why it couldn’t wait until tomorrow, and she was slightly annoyed that he was thinking of work on a holiday. Hadn’t he refused to become like his dad? Granted, they’d spent the last four hours at her place of employment, but that was different.
She held in a sigh. Swinging by to check for a sale sign wasn’t like spending the day working. There was no reason to be upset.
He smiled her way. “It won’t take long. We’ll still make it to your parents on time.”
She relaxed, realizing she’d overreacted. “They won’t care if we’re a few minutes late. Dinner’s not until six anyway.”
“We could walk there from your parents if we wanted. I didn’t realize they were so close.”
“Mom said when the atmosphere was just right, she could hear the children’s voices during recess.”
“Remember all the arguments we had there over the years?” He smirked. “Most of them I can’t remember in detail, but I’ll never forget the red ball incident.”
She groaned. “The one that started it all. How in the world did we manage to destroy a recess ball?”
“No idea.”
They came to the old school. The county had shut it down five years ago, and it had sat vacant since. Occasionally, neighborhood children would come to the playground, but there was a newer, safer park a block away.
She scanned the entire area. “I don’t see any for sale signs.”
“Me either.” He shifted into park. “Want to take a quick stroll around for old time’s sake?”
“Sure.” She met him in the front of his vehicle after he’d leashed Truffles.
His gaze shifted over the entire perimeter. “I’d love to see this place revitalized.”
“Such a waste of space.” She wrapped her scarf around her neck. “Do you have ideas for it?”
He gave a noncommittal shrug. “A few I’ve tossed around but nothing concrete.”
One of his hands held Truffles’ leash, and he reached for her hand with the other, wove their fingers together. They meandered to the playground, and she sat on the swing. “I hope it’s never torn down. There are too many memories here.”
The corners of his mouth turned upward. “I’m sure there are memories still to be made.”
Truffles barked. She looked in the direction where the dog had barked and saw a family walking toward the playground. Several seconds later, she realized it was her family. Mom, Dad, Tynley, Ryan, and Harper.
She turned her gaze to Trey as she hopped from the swing. “Why is my family coming to the playground? They know we’re supposed to be there any minute.”
He only shrugged again, walked with her to meet them. When they were all gathered into one group, Trey handed Truffles’ leash to Alexis’s mom who then winked at Trey. This was all peculiar. What was happening?
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “I thought we were meeting you at the house at four?”
Dad grinned. “Trey sent us a text that you’d be a little late, and we thought we’d take a walk so we’d have more room for the feast that awaits.”
Strange, but whatever. She’d learned to go with the flow.
“Aunt Lexi, will you swing with me?” Harper asked.
“Sure.” She walked with her niece, and they sat on swings next to each other.
Mom and Tynley took out their phones, snapping pictures like none existed of Alexis and Harper together.
