“What about Laney?” Lance didn’t think Holden had factored his niece into the equation.
“You’ll watch her.”
Lance’s chin jerked back. “I’llwatch her?”
“She’s easy. Just keep her fed and entertained until I get back. It’ll be a breeze.”
He wasn’t sure he would use those exact words. “You think Sarah’s good with that?”
“I can shoot her a text, but I’m sure she’ll be fine. She trusts you.”
Those words landed right in the pit of Lance’s stomach, making it fill with nerves. Sure, the many years of friendship had led to trust between them. But this was different. This was Sarah’s daughter, the person most precious to her out of anyone else. He didn’t take that lightly.
“I’d feel better if you texted her just to be sure,” Lance told Holden.
“On it.” Holden already had his phone in his hand, fingers plunking out a message to his sister. Between the quick span of sending the text and receiving a reply, Lance barely had time to take two breaths. “She says that’s fine, and to tell you thank-you.”
Okay. So, they were doing this.
Lance gulped down his apprehension, and whatever remaining nerves he harbored dissipated the moment Laney toddled over and reached up to grab his hand of her own volition. His fingers clasped around her chubby ones, and his heart did a little jolt.
“See? You’ve got this,” Holden praised. “She’s warming up to you already.”
Lance wasn’t so confident. Evenlessconfident when Brady retreated to the garage out back to check in with the teenage boys on staff that were busily tuning up the machines. And when Holden left for his locker to get suited up for the ride, Lance felt completely out of his element.
He stared down at the little girl attached to his grip, uncertain what to do next.
“Hey,” he uttered under an uneasy breath.
She blinked up at him, two big, chestnut eyes that were a twin match to her mama’s. She didn’t do much talking, and Lance didn’t know if that was typical for a two-year-old. Not that he was all that chatty at the moment, either. Panic seized his vocal cords, rendering him speechless.
“So, your mama says you need some new boots?”
Those huge eyes blinked once. Was she trying to communicate with him? That whole blink twice for help sort of thing? He was tempted to try it out for himself, hoping someone might come to his rescue if he signaled for it.
“What’s your favorite color?” he asked to get the conversation going.
No answer, just that adorable, innocent face turned up to him. Goodness, she was a cutie with her riot of curls framing her round face. Lance had never met Darren, but every bit of the little girl was a mini replica of Sarah. She favored her mother in every possible way.
Just as Lance was about to guide Laney toward the big wall display of winter shoes, the bell jingled above the entrance to the shop, an indication of another customer arriving through the doors.
How was he going to balance this, running the store while also looking after a child? When it came to more menial tasks, he could easily split his attention. But little Laney deserved all of his right now.
Lifting his head to peer toward the front of the store, he glimpsed a small figure coming through the entrance.
“Lance Major? You hiding around here somewhere?”
Thank heavens. There was truly no sweeter sound.
The top of a silver bun peeked above the racks, wobbling back and forth as the dearest woman in his life hobbled her way through the labyrinth of clothing shelves and displays.
“Nana Jo, I cannot begin to tell you what good timing you have.” Relief washed over Lance like a soothing balm at the sight of his beloved grandmother.
His nana looked down at Laney, who, quite honestly, wasn’t that much shorter than she. Josephine Major was a sprite of a woman with a personality bigger and warmer than a Summit sunrise. If you didn’t have a grandma, she considered herself yours, and if you ever needed anything from a laugh to a bible verse to a fresh batch of snickerdoodle cookies, she could deliver.
And at this unexpected moment, she’d come to Lance’s rescue in the best way imaginable.
“What’ve you got here, Lancelot?” She crouched down to Laney’s level and cupped the girl’s cheeks within her weathered palms. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest little angel around?”
