Page 20 of More Than a Little Spark (Cowboys of Stargazer Springs Ranch #9)

Carson

Carson

F red’s been pretty much the same moody preteen he was before I let him know that Daphne and I were dating.

And she’s come over several times. We’ve all gone out to dinner.

But he barely speaks to her. And he’s obvious about walking between me and Daphne, arranging it so that we don’t sit together. He’s dropping some big hints.

And since I’m the parent, it’s up to me to start this conversation. If I don’t teach him communication, where will he learn?

“Fred, come on out here, I want to talk to you.” I pull out the extra dessert that Ava sent home with me. Conversations always go better over sweets.

Fred trudges in as only twelve-year-old boys can do. “Yeah?”

“Have a seat. We can chat while we have dessert.” I set the plates on the table. “Why so glum?”

“There’s only one week left of summer. And I don’t want to go back to school.”

“Sorry about that. Summers always seemed short when I was in school. I tell you what. See if Mason is free one day next week. I’ll get some of the other guys to cover for me, and we can go do something fun.”

“Awesome! I’ll ask him when we finish.” He shifts in his chair as he takes a bite of the decadent Oreo dessert. “Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re welcome. And if it’s okay, I’ll ask Daphne to come along.”

Fred looks up from his plate. “That’s fine. I was hoping we could go to the Snake Farm. Do you think she’ll want to go there?”

Why do I feel like the choice of where to go was made entirely with Daphne in mind? “I’ll ask her, but only if you don’t mind.”

He shrugs. “I don’t mind.”

“Do you not like Daphne? When she’s around, you don’t talk to her much.”

“She’s nice.” His gaze is fixed on his plate.

“Are you unhappy that I’m dating her?”

He shovels a bite into his mouth, and then there is an awkward lull in the conversation while he chews. After swallowing, he shakes his head. “Nope.”

His words say no, but his body language says yes.

“My dating her won’t change anything about where you live or where I work. I want you to know that.” I’m hoping that by assuring him life isn’t about to upend, he’ll open up to the idea of Daphne. Because I’m getting the idea that it’s more about the dating and less about her.

“Okay.” He meets my gaze and flashes a quick smile. Then he drops his fork onto the table. “Can I go call Mason now?”

“Sure.” That didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but at least I made some key points.

I send off a text to Daphne.

Me: Any interest in going to the Snake Farm with me, Fred and Mason next week? And maybe Bailey. I’ll have to see what Fred thinks about that idea. Not sure what day yet. It’s one last hurrah before school starts again.

Bubbles dance on the screen, then stop. After a second, they start again.

Daphne: While I am not a fan of snakes. At all. I very much like you, so yes. Let me know what day, and I’ll do my best to slip away from the office. I like Fred and Mason too. And Bailey. For the record.

Me: Great. I’ll call you later.

Daphne responds with a kissing emoji. Sadly, we haven’t done much of that recently. Thanks to a very intentional Fred.

The Snake Farm is more roadside attraction and less zoo. That’s not to say it isn’t cool. Fred and Mason are loving it. And Bailey too. She’s right there next to the boys as they ooh and ahh over the baby alligator and then gawk at the full grown one.

Daphne snaps pictures with her phone and smiles at me, but the smile is riddled with disappointment. Fred hasn’t said more than a hello to her.

“Miss Daphne, come over here.” Bailey grabs Daphne’s hand and pulls her closer to the pen. “The teeth are scary. Let’s take a selfie with the gator in the background so I can show my mom and dad.”

Daphne squats beside Bailey. They lean their heads together and Daphne holds out her arm, moving it around a bit before snapping the photo.

“Want me to get one of all four of you?” I pull out my phone.

Daphne gives a slight head shake, then steps next to me. “Just the three of them, I think.”

Grinning ear to ear, Bailey moves so that she’s between Mason and Fred. Then I take a picture. While I’m sending the photo to Anderson because I know he’ll want it, the three of them take off.

Daphne and I nearly have to run to keep up with them. They stop at the door of the reptile center.

Fred grabs the handle. “I think we can touch the snakes.”

“Cool!” Mason steps closer to Bailey. “You don’t have to touch the snakes if you don’t want to, okay?”

“I know. Dad told me that before I left. I just want to look at them.”

Anderson warned me about Bailey’s fear of snakes. He was a little surprised that she wanted to come along. But it seems like spending time with the guys outweighs her dislike of snakes.

That’s something Bailey and Daphne have in common.

I squeeze Daphne’s hand. “Same goes for you. Don’t feel obligated to pet the snake.”

She meets my gaze, determination etched on her face. Then she whispers, “I will hold that snake if they let me.”

“I thought you didn’t like snakes.”

“I despise them, but I’m pulling out all the stops today.” She flashes a smile. “Hopefully it works.”

We step into the dimly lit building, and the snake charmer attendant motions us closer. There is a corn snake wrapped around his hand. Bailey walks backward until she backs into Daphne, who puts a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

Daphne leans down and says, “They’re kind of icky, aren’t they?”

Bailey bobs her head. “One time, I climbed a tree almost to the top to get away from a snake. Then I couldn’t get down.”

Daphne takes Bailey’s hand. “We can dislike snakes together.”

Fred nudges Mason forward to hold the snake first. I’m not sure if that is motivated by kindness. Maybe Mason is just the guinea pig. Either way, I make sure to capture the moment in photos.

After holding it a few moments, Mason hands the snake to Fred. His eyes light up in a way that makes me nervous. I am not ready to take on a pet snake. If he brings it up, maybe I can counter with the idea of getting a dog.

Then Fred marches up to Daphne and holds out the snake. Bailey jumps back, but Daphne doesn’t. Stiff, she takes the snake and holds her breath as it wraps around her hand. She looked less stressed when I pulled her out of her upside-down car.

She finally takes a breath and pushes her hand closer to the snake guy. “I think I’m done.”

“I want a turn.” Bailey marches up close to the snake and sticks out her hand. “Does he bite?”

The attendant skillfully sidesteps her question. “He won’t hurt you.”

Daphne and I are both snapping pictures, and Bailey looks as proud as can be.

Fred, on the other hand, looks dejected, and I have no idea why.