Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hayes
The Turners are hosting Easter at Zeke's’ house this year.
Apparently, it’s a huge deal, involving a small Easter hunt for the kids and a huge Easter hunt for the adults.
The invite said to bring your own ATV, binoculars, and rope.
I have no idea what that means, but it sounds like a training mission and I’m all in.
I ended up going into Bend and buying a side-by-side so that Charlie and I could roll in style.
Not my smartest financial move, considering I’m technically unemployed but I saved more than enough from my time in the Navy and I haven’t touched the decent-sized inheritance my grandparents left for me.
Well, except to buy Charlie that ring a few years ago.
The ring that is still in my dad’s mint tin—sitting on top of our dresser.
I’d give it to her right this second if I thought the timing was right.
It’s not, though; Carter is still a worry on her mind and things don’t feel as settled as they should.
We arrived early to help set up and it was chaos already. Charlie jumped into action, helping Olivia, and I volunteered to be on kid duty so the other adults could “hide” the kids eggs and finish prepping the food.
Zeke spent a week hiding the adult’s eggs and there’s an entire system of rankings.
All eggs are point-based; the person with the most points wins the title of Easter MVP and a $300 gift card to Buckaroo Bills, the only clothing store in town besides the Alpaca one.
A clothing gift card isn’t something I’d normally be excited about, but I could use a wardrobe overhaul to fit in this town.
It’s all cowboy boots and wranglers around here.
Even Charlie seems to be dressing a little more country than she ever has before.
The kids and I hung out in the living room, building tower after tower with Magnatiles.
Ben and I would build it high so that Ellie could knock it over.
Over and over again. Ben randomly started calling me “Uncle Hayes” and I almost got misty-eyed over it the first time.
The two of them have me wrapped around their little fingers, and I’ve only been here a few months.
It’s no surprise that Charlie doesn’t want to leave.
When it was time for the kids to do their egg hunt, they found every single one in about three minutes. The eggs were mostly just thrown about in the yard; a dozen or so hidden a little harder for Ben but he had no problem spotting them.
Standing next to Zeke, I bumped my shoulder into his and said, "Hope yours is a little more challenging than this one.”
“Get ready. Last year, Will brought his canine to track them down. He only beat Charlie by three points.”
Charlie’s eyes narrow at an SUV pulling in. “This year, I brought a Navy SEAL, though.”
Zeke let out a loud, boisterous laugh. “Can’t wait to tell Will that.
” He starts walking toward the SUV as a shorter guy with a bloodhound gets out.
How Charlie thinks I can compete with a trained bloodhound is beyond me, but I’m not going to let her know that.
I’ve got a little showing off I still need to do.
Thirty minutes later, Zeke is going over the rules.
“Alright, everyone! Listen up. You have two hours!
The rules are: no cheating, violence, or stealing.
Let's keep it friendly and fair. Golden eggs are worth 10 points; camouflaged eggs are worth 5; all other colors are worth 1 point.
There are a total of 300 eggs out there.
We're here to have a good time and test our skills, not to cause any trouble.
" He pauses, scanning the group as a warning.
I swear he eyes Charlie just a little longer than the rest. "Remember, this is just a friendly competition. Let's show some sportsmanship and respect for each other. Also, don’t forget to check yourself for ticks. Scavenger on!”
Charlie glares at Will, already forgetting all about the “friendly” part of the competition.
"Hey, Will! You teach that old dog any new tricks?”
Will grins and confidently asks, "Did you?” while gesturing at me. Doesn't even know the grave he just dug for himself.
"Let's go, Sunshine." I pull her toward the side-by-side, ready to set our game plan and show her everything I bought.
I have it loaded with the tools Zeke recommended as well as ones that I thought could be helpful—a brush axe, two extendable grabbing tools that have different ends for scooping, a topographical map, flashlights, rope, and a knife.
Charlie said the eggs are often found in trees or buried under brush, and very few are hidden in plain sight.
Our competition is mostly Search and Rescue members and anyone else that volunteers on their small force, but there’s a lot of people here. A lot of trained professionals whose sole job revolves around looking for hidden things.
"Last year, I went all the way out to the edge of the property and then worked my way in. I stopped for the small ones if they were easy to reach but the big ones were my priority. Those golden eggs are the hardest to find and get to, but worth it."
I nod, and when Zeke shouts go, we hop in and start driving.
Charlie is incredible at this, spotting eggs in places that I'd never even thought to look for.
I thought two hours would be plenty of time, but when the countdown starts ticking, the pressure hits.
We left the side-by-side at the edge of the property and have been strategically making our way back to the finish line.
Charlie is ravenous to find more, practically foaming at the mouth. I've only found a few handfuls, but they've all been golden or camouflaged. Charlie has found dozens, of all colors. She even scurried up a tree like a squirrel when the poles wouldn't reach it.
I'm thoroughly impressed… And a little scared.
Finally, Zeke calls a three-minute warning and we all sprint toward the finish line, carrying bags of plastic eggs. Adults of all shapes and sizes shove each other like children to make sure they get there.
While Charlie hovers over Zeke and Elise, counting the eggs, I walk over to stand by Dan and Luke.
“That was awesome. Brought back some of the good training memories. The ones that weren’t so serious and more about team bonding than anything else.”
Dan laughs and hands me a beer. "Yeah, Pop has always gone all out. It's good training for the team and they still get to have fun. I can't believe how many you two found, though."
"Have you met Charlie? Once she loses at something, she's determined for the next round."
"Learned that during a lively game of Uno. Thought she was going to kick my ass when I put down a 'draw 4.’"
I chuckle back. "Been there before."
"How's she holding up since the release?"
“Better than me. I’m seeing shadows everywhere I look." I don't normally vent to people I've only known for a short amount of time. However, Dan is one of those guys who's easy to talk to.
He takes a sip of his beer and then asks, "You worried he’s going to come all the way out here?"
"I don’t know. I want to say no. It seems crazy to think that he’d try to get across the country. But…”
“But it’s crazy to think that she had a stalker to begin with.”
“Exactly. My gut is telling me this isn't over.”
Dan nods and sighs, "Mine too. I called Detective Paul after you gave me his number at the Winter Festival. He thinks Carter is smarmy and arrogant, and his gut is telling him the same thing as ours. Carter’s still obsessed with Charlie. Guy got a sleeve of white roses tattooed on him in prison.”
"Fuck." I scrub my hand down my face.
He claps me on the shoulder. "I'm glad she has you. I was worried, based on your history, but I can tell you're one of the good ones."
"Thanks, Dan. Feel the same about you. All of you, really. I'll always be thankful that this town hid my girl so well. But I'll forever be indebted to you for sending her to Liv. Without her, I don't think she would've stayed and flourished the way she did."
"Those two are kindred spirits. They both helped each other in a way that you and I couldn't."
I nodded in response. The two of them are inseparable. They work together every day, hang out on weekends, and text when they aren’t together. They act like they’ve known each other their entire lives—sisters more than friends.
I know Drew holds some resentment toward them for hiding her, but I don’t look at it that way.
They did what we should have—took care of her and supported her during a time she felt scared and abandoned.
If it ever came down to it, I'd do everything in my power to repay both Dan and Olivia for all they’ve done for Charlie.