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“Yes?” I reply.

“Can we go fishing?” Hannah asks.

Noah flashes a bright grin as he munches on a piece of apple, and I hear Emma giggle, knowing I’m easily swayed by grins and requests to go to the pond. “I’ll make you a deal,” I say.

Hannah frowns.

“What?” I ask.

“Vicki makes the deals,” Hannah says.

Emma turns her head to conceal her amusement. Vicki will be nine this year. She’s always been the most vivacious and precocious of our children. And she loves to “wheel and deal.” I think our friend, Jeff, taught her those words.

“Well, I think your sister might enjoy a chance to go to the pond, too,” I tell Hannah. “So, I’ll make you a deal. You and Noah need to pick up the rec room. Then, you can get your fishing poles and the tacklebox ready to go into the car. Get Vicki’s pole, too. We can all surprise her at school and head to the pond. Okay?”

Hannah nods enthusiastically.

“Good,” I tell her. “Would you mind if I borrow Mom for a minute?”

“Borrow me? What is this Blockbuster Video?” Emma asks playfully.

“You’re dating yourself, Em. Andthatwould be a rental.”

Emma raises an eyebrow at me.

I shrug. “Hey, don’t look at me. I made the full purchase years ago.”

Emma’s laughter fills the kitchen, and I chuckle at the confused expressions on our kids’ faces.

“You guys are weird,” Hannah says.

Emma shakes her head. “Please tell me I’m not being led to unearth worms for this fishing excursion.”

“Nah. Your dad has some. I’ll stop there before we go to the pond,” I say. “He’ll probably decide to join us.”

Emma rolls her eyes and takes my hand. She calls her father my enabler. In other words, Tom Bronson enables my love for spending time in nature—and getting dirty.

“Finish your lunch,” Emma tells the kids, letting me lead her from the room. “Addy? What’s going on?” she asks me.

“It’s nothing dire,” I reply.

“Uh-huh.”

“How would you feel about taking a trip with me next week?”

Another raise of Emma’s brow makes me chuckle.

“I thought we might visit Tam and Christie,” I explain.

“Without the kids?” Emma asks.

I nod.

“Okay. Out with it. What’s going on?”

“I want to run an idea by all of you.”

“A project?” Emma asks.