“Oh, man. I played football with a couple of her boys, and she made that taco bar every season. It’s the best,” he murmured.
“I’ll bring you leftovers.”
Bowser snored louder in the back seat.
Aiden cleared his throat. “I’m having Saber install a security system at your house, including outside cameras. There’s a good chance we’re headed out next week again, and I’d like you covered.” Now he sounded all business.
I took the hit and forced a smile. “Sounds good. I don’t want some crazy alarm that I accidentally set off all the time.”
“No worries. Saber is the best,” Aiden said. “I’ll see you later tonight—might be late. Text me before you leave Silverville and are on the road.” He ended the call.
Violet watched the snow ting against the front window. “He’s kind of bossy, but I like him.”
“Me, too,” I murmured, letting Jolene’s words echo in my head. Was he ever going to settle down? For that matter, was I? Yeah, I was, and I was kidding myself if I thought differently. Not that my life would change a lot. But I would like a big family wedding, kids, basketball tournaments, and the whole happily ever after scenario. Did Aiden? We’d only dated for about five months, and most of that time had been apart from each other. How much of our emotions were from the past, from when he’d saved my life?
“What’s wrong?” Violet asked.
I cleared my expression. “Nothing. Just wondering what to get Aiden for Christmas.” I looked at her. “By the way, what did you and Jolene talk about?” I’d waited to ask, so the subject didn’t seem important or stress her out.
Violet shrugged. “Not much. She asked about my past, and I told her. She also wanted to know about your cases, and I said I didn’t know much about your work.” She picked at a string on the hem of her sweater. “Figured if you wanted anybody to know about the bloody finger sent to you in a box that you would tell them.”
Thank goodness for untrusting teenagers. “Thank you. She’s a reporter, and she would’ve run with that story.”
Violet winced. “Shoot. She didn’t tell me she was a reporter.” Panic lifted her voice. “Am I in trouble? Is she going to turn me in?”
“You’re fine,” I said, hoping it was true. “I know you don’t want to go into foster care, but there are some really good homes out there, and they want to help kids like you.” I wished I could make this easy for her, but I didn’t know how. “My Aunt Yara is one of those people, and I hope you two like each other. If you don’t, then that’s okay. But we’ll have to find you somewhere to live.”
She flattened her hands down her legs. “Why can’t I stay with you and Aiden?”
My heart broke a little for her, and I reached out to take her hand. “Besides the fact that I need an alarm system and have somebody sending me bloody fingers?”
She cracked a smile. “That’s a good point.”
“I know. I promise that no matter where you end up, I’ll make sure you’re safe and happy, and we’ll hang out.” I wished I could hire her at the law firm, but we were financially tapped right now.
“No matter what?” she asked, sounding much younger than sixteen for a moment.
I squeezed her hand. “Yes.” Then I pulled down a long driveway toward the river. “Uncle Buddy is my dad’s younger brother, and he married Yara, who’s awesome. They have six boys who were all pretty wild and now are all responsible and tough.” I paused. Wait a minute. If Violet became family, she’d have six older brothers. I winced. What was I thinking?
“Wow,” Violet said as we pulled up to the two-story log home with multi-colored lights hung on every eve. Several of the surrounding tall trees outside were also covered in lights, and a bundle of sparkly deer decorated the lawn.
I parked and opened the back door so Bowser could lumber out and take care of business. Then I fetched the pie I’d brought out of the trunk, leaving Violet’s and Bowser’s belongings for the time being.
“What if they don’t like me?” Violet asked as soon as she was out of the car and huddling in front of it.
I hurried to her and put my arm over her shoulders. “Why wouldn’t anybody like you? You’re delightful.” With that, I propelled her through the snow to the front door, opening it and all but shoving her in. “Aunt Yara?”
“She’s in the kitchen.” Uncle Buddy emerged from his den, wearing a nicely pressed blue flannel over dark jeans.
My heart warmed and flipped over. He’d dressed up to meet Violet. The delicious smell of tacos filled the air, and my stomach growled. I moved into his arms, letting him completely enfold me in a hug. Then I stepped back and introduced them.
He shook her hand, his movements gentle.
I grinned. Uncle Buddy was a barrel of a man with a wide chest, wide trunk, and more than six feet of height. He was a miner and had the muscles to prove it. He was also the biggest teddy bear I’d ever met. Well, until somebody threatened family. Then teddy bears turn into grizzlies. Like my dad, he had thick blackish-gray hair and soft brown eyes.
Violet shuffled her feet next to me.
Uncle Buddy bent and scratched Bowser behind the ears. “Cute dog. Has smart eyes.”
