3. Knox
Baby Lo
Knox, did you get the link I sent you?
Me
Yes, Lo. I got it.
Baby Lo
Annnnd? Did you order it?
Me
Yes.
Alder
I have entertainment!
Rhett
No one wants to see you reenact a mission…again.
Ivy
I do.
Winnie
Rhett
WINNIE, I SWEAR TO GOD.
Winnie
Hahahaha. KIDDING. I only have eyes for you, babe.
Me
Entertainment? Why does this concern me?
Alder
Because…you don’t want this party to kick ass?
Rhett
That’s too bad because this Dinosaur Princess party is going to kick some serious ass.
Me
Perfect. That’s just what Hazel wanted.
Winnie
Btw, I have the cake design ready to go. Flavors are strawberry with a lemon frosting as the princess requested.
Me
Thanks, Win.
Baby Lo
Perfect! I’m so excited. I can’t believe my little Hazey baby is going to be 3! Mom and Dad will handle the food.
Alder
Is Dad grilling?
Baby Lo
Yes, he insisted.
Rhett
Looking forward to another inappropriate apron.
Ivy
I definitely am. The apron at Christmas is why I’m with Alder.
Alder
I thought it was because I’m irresistible and unimaginably charming, but okay.
Ivy
No. It’s because of your dad’s apron. Sorry, Search and Rescue.
Me
That tracks.
Alder
C huckling, I set my phone down before turning my attention back to my laptop.
I’ve been trying to narrow down the enormous document of Kirk’s phone records.
I’ll need to have it all highlighted before I meet with Ms. June’s nephew and his lawyer tomorrow afternoon.
After our first meeting, we discovered that Kirk hadn’t spoken to his aunt in over six years.
No contact at all, even though he tried to claim phone calls and emails.
Ms. June didn’t even own a computer, so I knew that was a lie the moment it came out of his mouth.
Which leads me to believe most everything else will be too.
The Sorel family moved into town a few months after Mr. Carter passed. The ranching job that Mr. Sorel moved his family here for was sold within months of them settling in, leaving him needing work. Ms. June caught wind of their predicament, and things fell into place quickly.
It’s shitty that they even have to worry themselves with this right now.
Ms. June was clear about what she wanted after she passed.
Having your wishes respected is all you have left when you pass.
Speaking of respecting someone’s wishes, I’m going to need to have a talk with my family about respecting mine.
The blatant display of emotional manipulation from Winnie and Lo this morning isn’t a foreign concept.
They’ve teamed up on more than one occasion over the years to get me to agree to their various escapades.
Shopping trips, letting them paint my nails, and of course, the time I drove them to Wyoming for fireworks because they had to have the big ones.
I’m really rethinking this tenant thing they’ve sprung on me.
At least it’s temporary. I prefer being alone on my property.
There’s a peace that comes with having the lake to myself whenever I need the exercise and quiet.
My walks around the lake with Hazel, teaching her to fish without an audience, are special.
She’ll be gone in a couple of weeks max. What’s the worst that could happen?
An hour later, I’m slipping my laptop into my briefcase and walking out of the office.
Time to go get my girl from Mom and Dad’s.
Thankful again for family being so close by, I scroll through the pictures Ivy and my mom have sent me today.
In one, she’s wearing a chef hat while helping my mom bake cookies, and it looks like Ivy taught her a new hand gesture. Great.
I make it out to my truck, and as I’m opening my door, I notice a woman holding up her camera toward the mountains.
Her sunglasses and the shadow of downtown hide her face from my view.
I glance at where she’s looking. Having grown up here, sometimes I forget how amazing it is to be surrounded by these mountains.
When I turn my head back to the tourist, I see that she’s already walking away.
Making her way down the sidewalk with a bag under her arm, turning her head, looking around as she goes, taking everything in.
I’m not sure why, but I smile before hopping into the driver's seat, tossing my things onto the bench seat beside me.
My engine revs loudly, and I pull away from the sidewalk. The drive to my parents isn’t long, maybe twenty minutes. Shifting gears when I make it onto the two-lane highway that leads deeper into the mountains, I use the crank handle on the door to roll the window down and let in some fresh air.
This truck is my longest relationship. It’s been there through all the stages of my life.
My dad bought it to use as a farm truck, but after teaching me to drive it, I developed an attachment to it.
With a little coaxing, he decided to let me keep it.
I picked my first date up in it, had my first kiss in it, and I even brought Hazel home from the hospital in it.
Downshifting, I slow my speed to make the turn onto their tree-lined driveway.
I drive the familiar side road without giving it much thought until the trees break and their house comes into view.
With it, I see that my brother has joined the party out here today.
He has Hazel on his back, and he’s bucking around like a bronc at the rodeo.
Coming to a stop, I park my truck beside Alder’s old Bronco.
When I open my door, I’m greeted by the sound of Hazel’s giggling.
She’s laughing so hard she can barely breathe.
Ivy’s laughter echoes my daughters from where she’s sitting on the porch, enjoying the show her fiancé is putting on in the yard, holding her growing belly.
Mom and Dad step out to see what's going on, my mom snorting as she takes in the scene before her. Seeing Alder act like a circus clown to make Hazel happy isn’t new, but seeing Ivy watch him with undeniable affection is a welcome change.
“Alder, be careful with your niece!” Mom shouts, but she can’t hide the laughter in her voice.
“Oh, she’s tough though. So tough I can’t even buck her off. Isn’t that right, Hazey?”
“Yes! I’m tough!” she yells, grabbing two fistfuls of Alder’s hair, holding on for dear life. He rears back, making a god-awful noise that I think is supposed to be a horse, before starting to buck again.
“Woo! Let’s go, Hazey! Eight seconds!” Ivy shouts, and the whole porch starts counting.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight!”
Cheers erupt, and Alder lies flat on the ground catching his breath. Hazel dismounts and takes an adorable bow. The sight of her proud face—I’m not sure how, but I find new ways to love her more every day.
I let out a whistle, and her head snaps in my direction.
“Daddy!” she shouts, seeing me across the yard from her. “Did you see me?”
“I saw, baby! You’re a real rodeo champ,” I call across the yard.
“I am! I am!” she yells, running toward me, full tilt. I worry she may trip, so I start running for her—arms open. I crouch, and when she hits my chest, it’s like the other part of my heart is there again, making me whole.
“Hi, Hazel,” I say, breathing in the smell of her tiny toddler head. “I missed you, dragonfly.”
“I missed you too.”
“Did you have so much fun with Andy Ivy, and Grammy today?”
“Yes, yes, yes!!” she chants at me, and I grin at my happy girl.
“That’s good to hear.” I tell her, standing with her in my arms, and walking over to the rest of the family.
“Hey, Knox. Busy day at the office?” my dad asks.
“Still working on the case for the Sorels.”
He shakes his head. “It’s really a shame someone would question how well that family took care of Ms. June.”
“I don’t think anyone is questioning that exactly, but they are questioning the validity of her will. I’m doing my best to ensure it holds up without having to go to court. And if all goes well, that should be the case.”
He nods. “Good. I’m sure they’re really thankful you’re willing to do that.”
“The Sorels are good people, and I like to help where I can.”
“And that’s very admirable, son.” He claps me on the back and then goes to ask my mom a question.
“Hey, buckin’ bronco, how’s your back?” I greet my brother, who’s standing by his girlfriend as she tries to tame his wild hair.
“Better than yours, old man.” He shoots the taunt at me.
“Not too old to kick your—” I cut myself off, looking at Hazel smiling at me. “Tush,” I finish. Ivy and Alder start laughing.
“Daddy said tush!” Hazel says, covering her mouth with her little hands, eyes comically wide.
“Such a potty mouth, Knox. Please be more selective with your words,” Ivy chides, unable to hide her grin. I look up at the sky, catching sight of the shiny silver SUV pulling up beside my truck. Florence gets out and comes to meet us on the porch.
“Hi, Hazey baby!” she greets Hazel first.
“Hi, Andy Lo.” She smiles sweetly at my sister, then slowly leans her way, letting us know she wants Andy Lo to hold her now. Florence takes her, squeezing her tightly.
“Oh, Andy Lo missed you, sweet girl,” she whispers, then to me says, “So how’s Silverthorne’s newest landlord?”
I roll my eyes. “Reluctant,” I tell her, and she laughs a little at me.
“Oh, it’ll be fine, and it’s only for a few weeks—probably.”
“What's this? Are you renting out a property?” my mom asks, my dad looking to me for an answer as well.
“I’m letting Winnie’s new manager stay in the guesthouse down the road from me until she and Rhett can get her cottage’s plumbing fixed.
It’s not a big deal,” I tell them. Because to someone else, it probably wouldn’t be that big of a deal.
To me? Huge deal. Huge inconvenience. I’m already annoyed just thinking about someone else being out there.
“Winnie stopped by the hotel to bring some croissants for tomorrow morning and caught me up this afternoon. Apparently, she’s great. A fast learner, funny…gorgeous,” Florence informs us.
Gorgeous, huh? “Great, just what I need. More people who think they’re funny,” I muse.
“Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt you to broaden your sense of humor, ya grouch. Isn’t Daddy a silly grouch?” she asks Hazel.
“No! Daddy is not a grouch,” she tells my sister with a very grouchy face of her own. I grin .
“See? I’m not a grouch at all, am I, babygirl?” My daughter looks at me, smiling.
“Nope.” She pops the p loudly, and I grab her from Florence, spinning her in a circle, making her giggle.
“Alright, Hazel and I are gonna head out. I won’t be heading into the office until noon tomorrow since I’m meeting my new tenant in the morning. Can I drop Hazel off around eleven thirty?”
“That will be just fine. Are you gonna help Grandpa feed some cows?” my dad asks Hazel.
“Yes, yes!” she says, clapping her hands.
“Oh good, I don’t think I could do it without my best partner,” he tells her.
“We’ll see you tomorrow, sweet Hazel. I love you more,” my mom says, kissing her cheeks.
“Bye, Hazey,” Ivy calls from beside Alder. “I had so much fun with you today.”
“Bye, Andy Ivy,” she says to her, yawning. Both Ivy and Alder step forward to give her a hug and a kiss. If I do everything else wrong in this life, at least I’ve given Hazel this family. She’ll always know how loved she is.
“You’ll be ready for a bull in no time, Haze,” Alder tells her, tapping his knuckles to her tiny closed fist. I stifle my eye roll.
“Night, everyone!” I call over my shoulder, carrying Hazel out to the truck.
I get her buckled in, tucking her blanket and the shark stuffy she’s obsessed with at the moment next to her.
Pressing my lips to her head, and smoothing the wild hair from her face, I breathe her in before starting the truck.
Our drive home is peaceful. The sun is starting to set, casting neon orange across the sky, painting the clouds with it, and reflecting off the lake’s surface below.
When we pull up to our house, I check the rearview and see that Hazel has fallen asleep on the drive.
I cut the engine and just sit there for a moment, listening to the distant sounds of an owl hooting and the frogs by the water.
My mind wanders back to my brothers and how happy they are, how genuinely happy I am for them that they’ve found that.
Looking out over the water, I see the lone chair sitting on the dock, and just for a moment, I think seeing two wouldn’t be so bad.