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“So you’ve got time today?” I asked.

“Definitely. I’ve got a meeting with some of the distillery guys to fill out some health inspection paperwork, but after that, I’mwide open. Mia and I were already planning on taking Bella to the playground. Think Dylan would be interested in that?”

“Definitely, especially if you’ll feed him afterward.”

“It’s a deal,” Hawk said. “Anything to get things moving between you and Harley. It’s killingme, dude.”

True to his word,Hawk showed up hardly two hours later, with Bella on his hip and Mia right at his heels. Bella was wearing a massive pair of pink sunglasses that made her look like a bug. Mia wore a matching pair. “Where’s my favorite nephew?” Hawk hollered as he walked inside.

Dylan burst out of his bedroom and appeared at the top of the stairs. “Uncle Hawk?”

Harley glanced up from her laptop, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Hi, guys.”

“I’m on uncle duty,” Hawk announced too loud. Mia mouthed ‘sorry’ at Harley, making her laugh and shake her head fondly. “It’s playground day. How’s that sound, Dylan?”

“Sounds pretty good to me,” I said with a grin. “That okay with you, Harley?”

“Please, Mom?” Dylan raced downstairs. His hair was a mess, and he looked like he’d only changed out of his pajamas five minutes ago. The extra sleep had done him well, and now he was bubbling with energy. “Please, can I go?’

“I don’t see why not,” Harley said.

“Yeah!” Dylan and Hawk said simultaneously.

I barked a laugh. “All right, all right, you’re going to burst Bella’s eardrums.”

Upon hearing her name, Bella shouted “Ace!” and reached for me. I swept my niece out of Hawk’s arms and spun her around, making her shriek in delight.

“Put your shoes on, Dylan,” Harley said.

Dylan raced down the stairs and nearly fell on his butt in his eagerness to grab his sneakers by the door. “Where’s the playground? Is it cool? Is there a jungle gym? I’mreallygood at climbing, I can show Bella how to do it.”

“Bella might be a little too small to climb,” Mia said, “but she loves the swings.”

“I love the swings too.”

“Remember your manners, Dylan,” Harley said. “Make sure you listen to Uncle Hawk and Aunt Mia, okay? And be on your best behavior.”

I handed Bella back to my brother. “Yeah, I think Hawk’s the one you need to worry about. He’s got the behavioral issues.”

Hawk laughed. “I promise Dylan won’t catch his first charge at the playground.”

“What’s that mean?” Dylan asked.

Harley rolled her eyes. “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“Mom,” he grumbled.

“Let’s get out of here, kiddo, before it gets too hot outside.” Hawk clapped Dylan on the shoulder and led him out the door. Mia had Bella say bye, then the four of them left.

The house suddenly felt very still and quiet. It was as if a crazy storm had rolled through and passed in a matter of minutes. I went into the kitchen and put on another pot of coffee. The mid-morning sun streamed through the big windows, falling in golden stripes across the table and making Harley’s auburn hair gleam. The coffeemaker bubbled, but all I could hear was the beat of Harley’s heart. She fidgeted in her seat at the table, then shut her laptop.

“Well, if they’re having a park day, I might as well use this time to run a few errands,” she said. “It might be good for me to run by Mom’s, too…”

“Can we talk?”

Her eyes widened. “Talk?”

“Talk,” I repeated. “About us.”