He pushes a hand through his hair as his eyes trail Ellis and Roscoe around the yard. “I didn’t think much of it when it started. Ellis was just collecting rocks she liked, but then she kept telling me that we needed to keep them just in case.”
“Just in case of what?”
He shrugs. “She never said and before I knew it, I had a basket of rocks in my house.” Our eyes meet again. “I have indoor rocks, Vienna.”
Laughing, I nod. “Well, she had me look after her latest find today out on the playground, and when she brought them back inside, she put them in her backpack. But during story time, she raised her hand and asked if I wanted to come over tonight to see all of the rocks she saves for you, which led to her telling the entire class that we live next to each other.”
He stares at me curiously. “Okay…”
“The kids started asking a bunch of questions, and at one point, Johnny called her a teacher’s pet.” Rhonan’s jaw ticks. “She instantly deflated but didn’t seem to let it bother her too much. I…I guess I just wanted to let you know that these kids might go home and tell their parents that we’re neighbors, and I…”
Rhonan leans forward in his chair, resting his forearms on his knees. “Vienna, you realize people probably already know that. This is asmall town, remember? If you want to keep anything a secret around here, you don’t say a word and you have to be sneaky.”
“I know, I just remember you saying you didn’t want people talking…”
He sits upright again, blows out a breath, and darts his eyes back to Ellis. “I was an ass for making you think that was something we could control. I’m sorry.”
“Wow. It takes a lot of guts to admit when you’ve acted out of character.”
He arches a brow at me, but there’s a hint of a smile on his lips. “I’m not perfect, and Lord knows I haven’t handled this well. It’s just…a lot.”
“What is?”
His silence makes me uneasy, almost as if his contemplation is so loud, we can both hear it. “Fuck…” he mutters, right as Ellis races up the steps.
“Daddy?”
His scowl disappears as his daughter stops right in front of him, reaching for his hands. “Yes, Ellis?”
“Can I show Ms. Lewis our rock collection? I told her about it at school.”
Rhonan turns to me. “Want to see my indoor rocks?”
I momentarily debate making a joke about his question, but I refrain. “Sure.”
Ellis reaches for my hand next, pulling me up from my seat. “Come on.”
As we step inside, I see Joanne standing in the kitchen, scrolling on her phone, which she puts down the second she sees me. “Well, hello again, Vienna.”
“Hi, Joanne.”
“I’m showing her my rocks,” Ellis declares, still leading me by the hand.
Joanne chuckles. “Oh boy. Things are getting serious then.”
Rhonan scowls at his nanny but doesn’t say anything. Ellis stops in the living room right next to a wicker basket that could easily hold ten basketballs, and it’s halfway full of rocks.
“Oh my.” My hand flies to my mouth to cover my smile. “That’s a lot of rocks.”
Ellis’s proud grin is just too precious. “I know! Now we have lots in case we need them.”
“And what might you need them for?” I ask, knowing that Rhonan wants to know the answer to this question too.
“To throw at people.” Her response is so forthcoming and automatic that I think it shocks all three adults in the room.
Rhonan takes a step forward. “Why would you need to throw rocks at people, Ellis?”
“If they’re mean,” she replies, then turns to look up at him. “And in case your gun stops working, you can throw rocks at bad guys, Daddy.” Oh, my heart. The way this child thinks is both adorable and disheartening. “I just want you to be safe.”
