Page 92

“Yes, it is. I win,” Abby said. “Winner, winner, chicken dinner,” she sang.

Hadley raised her head, revealing a red face. “If anyone is making a chicken dinner, it’s that angel right there.” She pointed to Vera.

Thea clapped her hands together. “Speaking of chicken dinner, Vera is going to show me how to make chicken and rice sometime soon. Would you like to join?”

Abby raised her hand high. “Yes, yes.”

Thea winked at Abby. “I’ll call you when it’s time.”

“You’ll have to call my momma. I don’t have my own phone yet.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

Hadley propped her hands on her hips as she approached. “You be good for Miss Vera. I’ll be back soon.”

Abby gave a quick acknowledgment as she darted off.

Vera flashed one of her sweet grins and turned toward the kitchen. “She’s always good when she helps me.”

“Tell her my threat still stands,” Hadley said with an authoritative finger in the air. “I will hang her up by her toes if she gets outta line.”

Vera disappeared into the kitchen shaking her head and chuckling with Abby close behind.

Thea tried to hide her own smile. “You know Vera wouldn’t say one word about it if Abby was bad.”

Hadley turned her attention back to Thea and rolled her eyes. “She has been in rare form today. Bossy Pants is pushing the limits. Trust me, Vera will have something to say if she keeps it up.”

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive me today? I’m sure I could ask Stella for a ride.”

Hadley waved a hand in the air as she started toward the door. “No way. Vera likes hanging out with the kids as much as I do.”

Letting the matter slide, Thea followed Hadley outside. “I forgot about how long winter lasts here.”

Hadley bounced with each step she took down the porch steps. “I’m still getting used to the weather here. I feel like I’ve been praying for spring for months now.”

“Hold your horses!”

Thea turned at the shout. Brett was running toward them from the stables.

“What is he doing here?” Thea asked. “He said he had a meeting with Mr. Chambers.”

Brett had been the one to take her to all of her follow-up appointments so far, but after taking the day off yesterday, he had a lot to catch up on. Plus, he’d set up a very important meeting with his boss.

Thea had attended her own meeting with Jameson and Ava earlier. So far, things were falling into place, and there was a spark of hope that making a life here with Brett was actually within reach.

He met Thea at the front of the car and pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “Just wanted to tell you I love you.”

“You ran all the way from the stables to tell me that? I have a phone, you know.” Thea wrapped her arms around his waist and savored the feel of having Brett in her arms.

Clouds of his warm breath swirled between them as he dipped to rest his forehead against hers. “I’d run a hundred miles for a kiss from you,” he whispered.

“Aww, that’s precious,” Hadley crooned from the other side of the car.

“Any news?” Thea had resisted the urge to call and ask him, but she had to know.

“No news is good news, right?”

She prayed that was the case. “Did he seem like he was mad?”