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Colt squeezed Ben’s shoulder. “I know all your dad’s favorites. How about I break out the guitar tonight, and we can have a jam session.”

Ben sat up straighter. “Really?”

“Really.” Colt opened the freezer, pulled out his Atlanta Braves ball cap, and stuck it on his head.

By the time he sat down at the table, Remi, Ben, and Abby were all staring at him.

“What?”

“Did you just get your hat from the freezer?” Abby asked.

The cold against his scalp was already doing its job. “Yep. It helps me wake up.”

Remi stared at him with a mixing spoon suspended in the air. “I knew you were weird, but…”

“I’m not weird! I said it helps me wake up.”

Remi shook her head. “I’ll never understand you.”

“I’ll never understand you either,” Abby said.

Colt winked at little Abby. “You don’t have to.”

Remi plopped a waffle onto Ben’s plate and handed him a bottle of syrup. “You’re gonna put your best foot forward today, right?”

“I said I’ll think about it,” Ben grumbled.

“Well, think hard while you eat. I know it’s tough going into a new school in the middle of the year, but I know the other kids will love you.”

Ben slathered his waffle with syrup. “Love is a strong word.”

Boy, didn’t Colt know that. He had a lot more love than most men, and he wasn’t quiet about it. Maybe that’s what scared Remi so much. She kept her emotions close, and subtle seemed to be the way to go with her. He could find other ways to show her he cared.

“Abby, your waffle is up next. Why don’t you get your hair brushed while you wait?” Remi said.

Colt stood. “I’ll help with that.” He’d been taking lessons from Remi and Abby about how to brush Abby’s hair, and he was eager to show off this new skill.

The hair brushing went over well. No tears. The rest of the morning was a shuffle of one kid or the other until they were both ready for the day.

Remi grabbed both of the kids’ coats off the rack by the door. “Coats on and cabooses in the trucks.”

“What’s a caboose?” Abby asked as she slipped her arms into her coat.

“A behind. A booty,” Remi said.

Abby laughed. “We don’t call it that!”

“I don’t care what you call it, but for Pete’s sake get a move on it.”

“What’s a sake?” Abby asked.

Colt looked to Remi, and his blank expression probably matched hers. “Um…”

“We’ll have to look that up after I drop Ben off,” Remi said, ushering the kids toward the door.

“Bye,” Ben said with a wave.

Colt caught him and ruffled his hair. “Bye, bud.”