“I can do that. Promise. Can we go after breakfast, please?” She looked to me. “And maybe we can go to the park and you can teach me?”
Calder chuckled. “We can get the skateboard, but I think we’ve monopolized enough of Hadley’s time today.”
“I don’t mind. I’d love to teach you, Birdie.”
“Yes!” Her fist shot into the air and then she did some sort of wiggle dance in her seat. Suddenly, she paused, seeming thoughtful. “Do you think I can be a pro skateranda firefighter? Like I can be at the station during the week and the skate park on the weekends?”
A muscle in Calder’s cheek ticked. He never discouraged Birdie when she mentioned wanting to be a firefighter, but I knew it set him on edge. I didn’t blame him. I hated the idea of Birdie running into a burning building, but she was nine. She would have twenty different profession ideas before it was time for her to choose.
I leaned forward so that I was on her level, eye-to-eye. “I think you can do whatever you set your mind to.”
Her grin grew into a smile that seemed to take up half her face. “Thanks, Hads.”
As I straightened, I caught sight of Calder. He was looking at me with tenderness, something I’d never seen before. Or maybe I’d gotten glimpses of it, but hadn’t been able to catch hold. He’d always been so eager to hide it from me; I’d questioned if I’d ever seen it at all. This time, he didn’t hide. He let me see it all and take it in. And it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen.
“Willyou carry me to the car, Goose? I’m in a food coma.”
Sage giggled. “I don’t think I’m strong enough.”
I reached over and squeezed her biceps. “I don’t know… Feels like you’ve got some pretty big muscles to me.”
“If I had my skateboard already, I could tow you,” Birdie said.
“Ooooh, that’s going to be a perk. I’ll have you take me all over town.”
She beamed. “Or I’ll make you take me.”
“Hi, guys.”
I stiffened at the sound of my mother’s voice. The reaction immediately made me feel guilty. I didn’t want to be on edge around her, but I couldn’t seem to help it.
She surveyed our table. “What did you get for breakfast?”
Sage looked up at my mom. “Hads and I had the scramble and cheese grits.”
“That sounds delicious.” Mom gave me a cautious smile.
“It was. I was just trying to bribe Birdie and Sage to carry me to the car because I’m in a food coma.”
She chuckled. “Those are the best kinds of breakfasts.”
“I got waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, and Dad got a bunch of stuff.”
Calder grimaced. “I feel like I ate enough to feed an army.”
“Sounds like a day chasing two girls at the park should be in your future,” my mom said.
Birdie practically bounced in her seat. “We’re going to get me a skateboard, and then Hads is going to teach me to ride it. When I get good enough, I can do tricks.”
My mom’s gaze snapped to me. “Hadley, really? She’s too young for something like that. Why would you suggest such a thing? She could get hurt.”
I did everything I could to keep my face blank. “I didn’t.”
Birdie’s gaze shot from my mom to me and back again. “It was my idea. And I’m not too young. Dad said.”
Calder set down his dwindling mug of coffee. “I’m the one who said Birdie could get a skateboard, and she has promised to wear her safety gear at all times.”
Mom’s lips pursed. “You might have agreed to it, but I’m sure it was Hadley who put the idea in her head. She’s always off on one of her crazy adventures. And you know better than anyone that accidents happen, even when you’re careful—”