Dustin and Patrick’s faces are twin expressions of confusion.
“I’m a mom,” I repeat to break whatever spell just descended on them.
“You have a daughter?” Dustin echoes.
“Yes. Her name is Mia. She’s seven. Her dad and I separated after her first birthday.”
“She lives here in Waterford?” Dustin gets this boyish look on his face—brows raised, smile wide.
“Yes. She lives with me. And for now, my mom lives with us too. My sister also lives here in town.”
“Mia,” Patrick says softly.
“Can we meet her?” Dustin asks with the tone of a child asking if he can have a puppy.
“I’d like that. She’s with her dad for the next few days. His family has a thing. But she’ll be at Pie Day. That’s the day she gets back.”
“You’ve got a daughter,” Dustin says, his voice full of wonder.
Then he turns on Greyson. “You knew about this? You went to dinner at her place. That means you met the daughter—Mia. Man, this is so unfair. Hallie. You know Patrick and I should have met her first. She’s going to think all firefighters are grumpy old curmudgeons.”
I laugh.
Greyson doesn’t.
Instead, he says, “I’m her coach.”
“She plays baseball?” Dustin is practically giddy.
“She does,” I say. “Baseball is her passion.”
“I want to come to her games,” Dustin practically whines. “Don’t you, Patrick?”
Before Patrick can answer, Greyson says, “No. No one’s coming to the games.”
I stifle a giggle. He’s just so serious and stern.
“Why not, Grey? We’ll behave.”
“No games.”
Dustin looks at me. “He’s always like that about the games. I want to come as a show of support. He says no.”
“Maybe he gets enough of you on shift,” Patrick says.
“Enough? Of me? Impossible.” Dustin flexes.
“Yeah,” Greyson deadpans. “Impossible.”
Chapter 20
Hallie
You’re a mom. ~ Dustin
“Do you have any pictures?” Dustin asks as we walk through the bay back into the kitchen.
“Of Mia?” I ask him.
