Page 103 of Carson

“That’s good. Maybe you can help Cole. He needs someone to practice with.”

She rubs her nose. “Daddy says I shouldn’t tell other people’s business, but I heard Cole crying the other day.”

“You did?”

We both sit down on the porch, waiting for her parents to finish up with their other kids.

“I think he’s sad because Carson usually plays with him, and now that you’re here, he doesn’t anymore.”

“What did they like to do together?”

“Basketball. They always play basketball. And they ride their motorcycles together a lot.”

The honesty of a child.

“Well, maybe we can come up with a plan to get them to play together again. Because I don’t mind.”

“You don’t?”

“No. I want Carson and Cole to be best friends, just like they’ve always been.”

She thinks about it for a while. “We could ask Jackson to send them on a mission.”

I burst out laughing. “A mission?”

“Yeah, the club goes on missions a lot. My parents are always arguing over which one of them gets to go. So whatever they are, it must be fun.”

Charlotte is a breath of fresh air.

“That’s a good idea. You think Jackson would help us?”

“I’m going out to the farm today. I could ask him for you.”

“You know. That just might work.”

“What’s in your bag?” she asks, changing the subject.

“Oh, just some books and things.”

She jumps from her seat. “I’ve got the best book for you to read.” She hurries inside, rushing past her mom. “I’ve got to get Luna a book.”

Katie laughs, spinning in a circle as her daughter bumps into her. “Don’t you wake your sisters up.”

“I won’t!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was naptime.”

Katie lowers herself into the chair Charlotte just vacated. “Oh, don’t worry about it. Charlotte doesn’t nap, which means Petey and I don’t get to nap either.” She laughs tiredly.

I look over the lake, remembering the times I sat alone by the water. I thought all that time was healing me, but maybe being by myself was an excuse to ignore some of my deeper wounds. There was no one around to mirror them back to me.

“Petey is who made me stop running,” Katie says quietly, not taking her eyes off the water. “Cole texted me and told me you were on your way here.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t want to bring up things you’d rather forget.”

“That’s just it. You never forget, do you?”

Instantly tears spring to my eyes, because if she hasn’t forgotten, neither will I.