“Y’all having fun?” I ask her.
She nods. “Yes, we were. I know you have a schedule, but she was having so much funand—”
“June, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. She’ll be a terror in the morning, but I’m glad y’all had fun.”
“How about I come back and crash on the couch so you can leave her sleeping,” June offers.
I huff and readjust my hat. “Sure, that’s fine.”
June sighs. “So how did it go?”
A grin grows on my face, and I glance at her dimly lit face from the porch light.
“That good, huh?” she asks.
I rub my chin and avoid eye contact. A gentleman never tells. But if I know June, she’ll probably pull it out of Mae tomorrow.
“Good. I’m glad. She told me a lot of what she’s been through, and after seeing it with our own eyes …. I’m glad she finally found someone who will treat her right.”
“I will, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves,” I tell June.
The door opens again, and Gracie sticks her head out.
“Okay, you can come back inside,” June says.
I laugh and walk back through the door, and almost everything is cleaned up. Dress-up clothes are piled in her basket, and the crayons are at least gathered on the counter, and there’s less glitter. I’ll take it.
“Thanks ladies. I appreciate it. A round at the Wooden Cowboy is on me.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Gracie says.
“Night,” they each say and close the door behind them.
I go to check on Naomi, assuming she’s pretending to be asleep, but in fact she is out cold, still wearing her tutu, feather boa, and a … fishing vest. I gently unravel the feather boa around her neck and check the fishing vest to make sure there aren’t hooks on it. It’s empty. Then I pull up the covers and tuck her in, placing her tiara on her bedside table.
That was a lot easier than I thought.
After I get ready for bed, my mind stays on Mae, wishing I could’ve stayed in that moment with her for alittle longer.
***
“Something smells good in here,” I say, coming through the door and hanging my hat on the hook. June and Naomi have flour on them and the counter.
“Uncle Coop!” Naomi yells and runs around the island before jumping into my arms. She doesn’t care that I smell like cattle and sweat. Maybe it’s because it’s all she’s known.
“Hi sweetheart. I missed you. Looks like you’ve been baking,” I say, kissing her on the cheek.
Naomi hugs my neck extra tight, which isn’t usually like her unless she’s going to bed. I glance at June over her shoulder, and she smiles sadly. “You good, princess?” I ask her.
She sighs and lays her head on my shoulder. “I just missed you.”
“I wasn’t gone that long,” I tell her.
“But you weren’t here when I woke up.”
“I didn’t want to wake you up to go check the cattle,” I tell her.
“I know, Auntie June told me.”
