It made her sad to think that her late husband never had the chance to meet Olive, with her funny personality and her bossy little brain.
“I’m not seeing anything. What about you?”
Andrew scanned the area. “No, nothing.” He sighed. “He has a zillion minifigs. I don’t know what stands out about this one so much. I guess he loves that particular Darth Vader.”
“When are they going to make LEGO sets of your characters?”
“They’re talking about it,” he admitted. “They made action figures and other merch after the movie came out but a LEGO set would be mind-blowing.”
She could not imagine creating something that was so universally loved that it had been made into a movie—soon to be a second and a third, from what she understood—and now had the potential to be a building set.
“That is amazing. Did you ever imagine when you started writing that you might one day be in this place?”
He gave a rough laugh. “When I started writing, I couldn’t even imagine ever finishing a book. I’m not sure any writers think that their words are going to resonate so strongly with readers that one day their books are going to become a franchise with a huge fandom. I wouldn’t have expected that, with my weird, esoteric fantasy novels.”
“I think it’s wonderful. You should be so proud.”
“Even though I write love scenes like I’ve never even met a woman?”
She groaned. “I have a feeling you’re never going to let me forget that.”
He chuckled, a low, rich sound in the night. She turned away with her flashlight, and as she did, she caught a glimpse of something out of place in the grass. Immediately, Rosie dropped to her knees. “I saw something. Not sure what,” she said.
Andrew dropped as well. They scoured the grass as the first few raindrops began to fall.
“Is that it?” Rosie asked, caught up in the thrill of the quest.
He dug around in the grass, then pulled his hand back. A small figure rested in his palm, dwarfed by the size of his hands.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “I’m so happy we found it. I would have hated for Finn to lose something he loved in my yard, and then forever associate us with disappointment and loss.”
He rose as well, graceful and masculine. “Oh, he’ll be thrilled that we found it. I don’t believe he expected to see it again.”
He gave her a close look. “Thank you for helping me look. I’m sure you have a million things to do. I know it’s no fun cleaning up after a party.”
“Not a million. Maybe half a million.”
“I can help you. You helped me. It’s the least I can do.”
She thought of that mountain of dishes inside awaiting her. She wasn’t about to let her mother balance on her crutches at the sink to take care of them.
“That would be great, actually. Would you mind helping me put the folding tables and chairs back in the garage?”
“Not at all.”
After pocketing the minifig—and zipping his jacket pocket for safekeeping—he grabbed some of the folding chairs and began collapsing them, carrying two on each arm. “Where do they go?”
“Against the back wall.”
“Are these all yours, or do you need to leave some out to return to neighbors?”
“All the neighbors who brought some have taken them home. The rest are mine.”
He looked at the collection of chairs. “Why do you have a dozen folding chairs? Just curious.”
“You never know when you need a folding chair, right? We have various meetings here sometimes for the construction company. And parties, book clubs, Thanksgiving dinner when I need a few more chairs. Every homeowner should have at least a few extra chairs.”
“I don’t. I don’t believe I’ve ever owned a single folding chair.”
