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“You’re not mad?”
“Of course not.” He reaches for the package of cookies. “But I’m taking control of the cookies until you two start being nicer to me.”
I move the crackers over between Lilly and me. “Fine. We’ll control the crackers, then.”
We play for another hour and Lilly ends up winning. Preston leans over and kisses her on the cheek. “Good game, bug.”
“Can I have a cookie now?”
Preston grins. “You may have two cookies now. Then it’s time to settle down in your fort.”
She yawns then says, “I’m not tired.”
“Even so. It’s late. And we have to hike home tomorrow. Assuming the rain decides to stop.”
“Can we stay again if it doesn’t?”
“I’m pretty sure the rain will stop soon. So probably not.”
“But if it doesn’t?”
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
I get up and take Lilly’s hand. “I bet you have to go to the bathroom.”
She nods.
I look at Preston. “I assume there’s a bathroom somewhere?”
He points at the front door. “Outside. About a hundred feet behind the house.”
“An outhouse?”
“Yes. Or, you know. There are a lot of trees out there.” He gets to his feet. “Do you need me to come with you? I can hold a flashlight.”
“I think we can manage. I’d just like to not get soaked.”
“Wear the poncho and carry Lilly.” He goes to the door and opens it. “It’s not currently pouring, so it might be a good time to go.”
I smile at Lilly. “Okay, are you ready for an adventure?”
“Going to the bathroom isn’t an adventure.”
“It is here.”
I put on the poncho and Preston puts a smaller raincoat on Lilly. Then he hands me the flashlight and goes onto the porch with us.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?”
“We’ll be fine.” I look out at the dark. “There aren’t any wild animals around here, are there?”
He glances at Lilly. “No. Perfectly safe.”
I pick up Lilly, turn on the light, and step off the porch. He calls after us. “I’ll be right here. And if you’re not back in five, I’m coming to find you.”
I wave over my head. “We’ll be right back.”
“You know what happens every time someone says that?”