“We went to the Aquarium once.” There might have been more trips, but none came to mind. She tried to forget her childhood memories.
They were silent again, and it wasn’t comfortable anymore. Was shetryingto drive him away? Not everything she talked abouthadto be dark.
“Well, here we are,” Ezreal said, his expression troubled.
* * *
The waiting carriage-likewagon was even nicer than Ezreal had hoped.
“I’m impressed,” Sara said, coming to stand beside him, Brand and Janna on each side of her. “I didn’t expect padded benches or a cover.”
“I’m all about comfort.” Ezreal pointed to the steps. “This way guys.” He hefted the little boys up onto the seats. While Sara gave the girls a hand up, he went back for the ice chest and slid it under one of the benches. He then put himself between Brand and Nik, with his arms behind each boy, in case one of them got into a climbing mood, which was likely, knowing them as Ezreal did. The railing along the back would likely keep them from falling off, but he wasn’t willing to risk it.
“The horses are big,” Janna whispered from beside her mother.
“They have to be to pull a big wagon like this,” Sara said. “Look at their muscles.”
“They’re so pretty,” Lessa rose on her knees, holding on to the railing. She watched as the farmer climbed onto his seat.
“I’m Farmer Dale,” the gray-bearded man said. “The black horse is named Peter. What do you think of when you hear that name?”
“Peter Parker,” Nik cried.
“A horse can’t be Spiderman,” Brand said, pulling a face.
“Well, he can’t be Peter Rabbit either,” Lessa said with disgust.
“Peter Pan,” Janna said, “because he can fly. I’d like to ride a galloping horse. I think it’d be like flying.”
“Very good, little lady,” Dale said. “He’s named after the lost boy. That’s why my daughter gave him that name.”
“Ah.” Nik gave a humph of disgust. “That’s not fair.”
“You rarely think things are fair,” Sara said, exchanging a glance with Ezreal as they both tried to bite back a laugh at the children’s competitiveness.
“Now the bay horse is called Pippi,” the farmer asked. “Any ideas where her name came from?”
“Pippin?” Nik asked. “Like Frodo’s friend?”
“The horse’s name is Pippi,” Sara corrected. “Think of some of the books I read to you.”
“Oh, Pippi Longstocking.” Janna rose to her knees and peered at the horse. “She needs braids in her mane to be Pippi. I guess her hairiskind of red.”
“The Pippi Longstocking books were my wife’s favorites when she was little.”
“And just like Peter Pan, she doesn’t want to grow up,” Sara added, with a soft, almost sad, smile.
“Now I need you all to put your backs to the back and your bottoms to the bottom, so I can drive you to your picnic.”
Ezreal watched as Sara settled the girls beside her. An occasional frown crossed her face, and he wondered what she was thinking. Him buying boosters seats for the kids? Did it go back to her not wanting to feel obligated to anyone? In some ways he could understand feeling that way but about car seats? What had she thought he was going to do, drive the children without them? No. She’d have assumed he’d use hers.
At least she’d admitted that Ezreal could spend his money like he wanted to. He just happened to want to spend it on her and her children. If she raised more fuss about it, he’d have to remind her of that. In the few months that he’d known her little family, he’d gotten out of the office more than he had in the last three years combined. He liked it and enjoyed how, when he went back to his computer, the music in his mind was more alive.
“What are you thinking?”
Ezreal met her gaze, those gray blue eyes drawing him in as they always did. His ears were growing warm, but he refused to look away. He wanted her to know how important she’d become to him.
“I was thinking about how much fun I’ve had since I met your family.”
