Page 92 of Back To Our Beginning

“Huh?”

“Two hot dogs? Holden throws up. Sound familiar?” Her eyes twinkled the same way Maddie’s did.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I smiled. “I’ve got a few more things to bring out. Don’t fill up on the crab dip.”

Bella sidled up next to her mom. “Can I have a taste?”

“You don’t like shellfish, honey,” Trenda said.

“But that’s dip. I like dip. Especially with bread.”

I chuckled as I made my way back to the kitchen. I felt someone following me. The kitchen timer went off.

“What’s in the oven?” Evie asked.

“Little smokies, or hot dogs for your son.”

“You’re sneaky.” She opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. “And don’t think I don’t know why you volunteered to do all the cooking.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked as I used a spatula to put the pastry-wrapped smokies onto a platter.

“You couldn’t stand the idea of leaving Maddie, even with three of her sisters. You’re so tightly wound that you’re going to have an aneurysm.”

“I’m not going to have an aneurysm,” I protested.

“Fine, how about this? You’re wound so tight, I bet you could crack a walnut between your butt cheeks.”

I started laughing. “Did Aiden tell you that one?”

“Hell no, that’d be Drake.” Evie grinned.

“Figures.”

“She’s fine, you know. She might be a little sore. But she’s fine.”

I was done with the smokies, so I turned, leaned back against the stove, and crossed my arms. “I mostly know that. But I’m the one who found her. I’m the one who was with her on the Medevac flight. I just need a little more time to deal. Okay?”

“You’re going to have to speed up the process. You’re driving my sister up the wall.”

“Evie, she’s stronger than you realize. She can handle me hovering, for now…”

Evie looked at me thoughtfully. “Actually, you’re probably right.”

“I know I am.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Freedom,” I sang, tapping the dashboard of Beau’s truck like it was a drum.

“Freedom,” I sang a little louder, keeping the beat with my fingers.

“Freedom,” I sang really loud, stretching the word out in an off-key falsetto, drumming like I was Travis Barker.

Beau looked over at me. “You do realize there are other words to that song, right? It starts with ‘I won’t let you down, I won’t give you up.’ Pretty solid lyrics, Maddie.”

Naturally, I ignored him.

“Freedom,” I sang with even more conviction, like George Michael himself had taken over my body…minus the talent.